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Attendance: 79,160
Barcelona logo
La Liga | Gameweek 2
Aug 25, 2019 at 8pm UK
 
Real Betis logo

5-2

Griezmann (41', 50'), Perez (56'), Alba (60'), Vidal (77')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Fekir (15'), Moron (79')

Antoine Griezmann nets brace in impressive Barcelona win

Antoine Griezmann scores twice as Barcelona come from behind to record a 5-2 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou.

Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Barcelona came from behind to record a 5-2 win over Real Betis in Sunday night's La Liga clash at Camp Nou.

Nabil Fekir had sent Betis into a shock 15th-minute lead on the night - at which point Barca were staring at a second successive defeat having lost their 2019-20 opener at Athletic Bilbao last weekend.

Griezmann scored either side of the half-time break to send the home side ahead, however, before Carles Perez, Jordi Alba and Arturo Vidal netted ahead of a late consolation for Loren Moron.

Barcelona attacker Antoine Griezmann scores against Real Betis in La Liga on August 25, 2019© Reuters

Rafinha had a half-chance in the fourth minute after being found by Alba inside the Betis box - Marc Bartra was across to make a smart block, though, and the opportunity was gone.

Griezmann then struck wide of the post from distance with Barca making most of the early running against Betis, who lost their league opener at home to Real Valladolid last weekend.

Another half-chance came for Sergi Roberto when the midfielder met a cross from Alba, only to get his contact all wrong and head high rather than towards the goal.

Betis beat Barca 4-3 at Camp Nou last season, though, and the Seville outfit looked confident and comfortable early on despite having to concede a lot of the possession.

The visitors took the lead from their first breakaway in the 15th minute when Loren played a clever pass into Fekir, who picked out the bottom corner with a brilliant finish from a tough angle.

Real Betis players celebrate Nabil Fekir's goal against Barcelona in La Liga on August 25, 2019© Reuters

Ernesto Valverde's side had a lot of the ball in the period that followed - Betis were far from unnerved, though, and did not have to work too hard to keep their one-goal lead as the first half developed.

Gerard Pique was perhaps a touch fortunate to only pick up a yellow card in the 32nd minute when he brought Loren to the ground with a last-man challenge outside the Barca box.

The resulting set piece from Fekir had to be saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, with the fast counter another indication of the threat that the visitors could provide.

Rafinha had a golden chance to equalise late in the first period after being found by Alba inside the Betis box, but the Brazil international saw his effort deflected wide of the post by Sidnei.

Barca did level the scores in the 42nd minute, though, when Griezmann poked a brilliant pass from Roberto past the Betis goalkeeper to register his first competitive goal for the club.

Antoine Griezmann and Sergi Roberto celebrate during Barcelona's La Liga clash against Real Betis on August 25, 2019© Reuters

Perez had the home side's first chance of the second period after breaking into a dangerous position, but the 21-year-old forward fired wide of the post.

Valverde's side did take the lead shortly after, however, when Griezmann picked out the bottom corner of the net with an excellent curling strike from distance. Barca desperately needed someone to step forward in the absence of some key players, and the summer arrival certainly answered the call.

Perez then sent a powerful effort just wide of the Betis post shortly after as the home side looked for a third.

The forward was not to be denied, though, and made it 3-1 Barca in the 56th minute when he picked out the bottom corner with a clever effort after working space just inside the Betis penalty box.

The champions were not finished, however, and scored a fourth shortly after when Alba collected a clever pass from Sergio Busquets before squeezing the ball past the away side's stopper.

Betis had impressed for long spells of the first period but were unable to deal with the rise in tempo as Valverde's side flexed their muscles in front of their own supporters.

Barcelona's Carles Perez in action with Real Betis's Alfonso Pedraza in La Liga on August 25, 2019© Reuters

It had threatened to be a tough night for Barca with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele all on the sidelines. However, it turned out to be a mature performance from the Catalan giants.

The home side's fifth of the match arrived in the 77th minute when Vidal found the top corner with a brilliant strike off a Griezmann assist, before 16-year-old Anssumane Fati entered the field for his debut.

The goal fest was not finished, though, and Loren netted an absolute stunner for Betis in the 79th minute - finding the top corner from distance to finish the scoring at Camp Nou.

Fati almost made it a dream night late on when he looked to pick out the bottom corner from a narrow angle, only to watch the ball move just wide of the post.

Next up for Barca is a trip to Osasuna on Saturday, while Betis will be looking for their first points of the season when they host Leganes.

BARCELONA (4-3-3): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Lenglet, Alba; De Jong, Busquets (Vidal 74'), Roberto; Perez (Fati 78'), Griezmann, Rafinha (Junior 81')

REAL BETIS (4-2-3-1): Martin; Emerson, Bartra, Sidnei, Alfonso; Carvalho, Guardado (Kaptoum 61'); Fekir, Canales (Lainez 75'), Tello (Joaquin 61'); Loren

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913

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