Barcelona have extended their winning run in La Liga to five games by beating Real Betis 3-1 at the Camp Nou this evening.
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The hosts started strongly and almost opened the scoring when Adriano found Xavi on the edge of the box, before the midfielder saw his low drive kept out by Antonio Adan.
They were then given a penalty moments later after Alexis Sanchez was brought down in the box by Jordi Figueras. Lionel Messi stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly slotted the ball home.
Barcelona continued to dominate and should have doubled their lead when Adriano drilled a low ball across the six-yard box that Dani Alves turned wide of the post.
Messi came close to adding a second minutes before the break, but after picking the ball up just outside the box, he bent an effort just wide.
Xavi almost doubled Barca's advantage five minutes into the second half when his curling free kick hit the top of the crossbar.
In the 67th minute the home side grabbed their second of the match as Figueras deflected the ball into his own net following Adriano's cross.
Ruben Castro pulled a goal back for Betis a minute later when he drove through the home defence, before firing an effort past Jose Manuel Pinto.
With five minutes left to play, Barcelona were awarded their second penalty of the match after Juanfran handled Neymar's cross.
Adan managed to save Messi's spot kick, but the ball fell kindly for the Argentine to force the rebound into the net.
Alex Meyers
