Lamine Yamal leads Barcelona to the quarter-finals of the Spanish King’s Cup after defeating Real Betis 5-1

Lamine Yamal produced a stunning display to guide Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with an impressive 5-1 win over Real Betis on Wednesday. Atletico Madrid joined them in the quarter-finals with a 4-0 victory over second division team Elche, their fifteenth successive victory in all competitions. 17-year-old Barcelona star Yamal scored one goal and assisted on two more as Hansi Flick’s side ran riot at the Olympic Stadium. Gavi sent Barcelona into the lead early, as Jules Kounde, Rafinha, Ferran Torres and Yamal helped the Catalans to an impressive win.

After winning the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last weekend by defeating Real Madrid, Barcelona entered the cup match with restored confidence, after faltering in the final weeks of 2024.

“We have to keep going like this,” said Barcelona defender Pau Kuparsi, also 17, who came through the club’s youth academy with Yamal.

“I’ve been enjoying watching it for so many years, and now the whole world is, and it’s worth it.”

Barcelona dominated the match against Betis, although the coach rested two key players, including striker Robert Lewandowski.

Dani Olmo, who Barcelona controversially received a temporary playing license last week, started in the false ninth in place of the Polish veteran.

The Spaniard helped set up the opening goal at the sharp end of a brilliant team move, with Gavi scoring in the second minute.

Olmo fired and hit the post during a particularly busy opening period for the former RB Leipzig playmaker.

Kounde scored Barcelona’s second goal after Yamal passed the ball to the right of the penalty area.

It was an area that the Catalans exploited time and time again, with Kounde’s second goal from a similar position being ruled out for offside.

At the other end, goalkeeper Iñaki Pena made a good save against a shot by Vitor Roque, who is on loan to Betis from Barcelona.

Javi is a great talent.

Early in the second half, Yamal, who taunted the Betis defense throughout, finished clinically after Frenkie de Jong passed the ball to him on the right of the penalty area, but it was ruled out for offside in the build-up.

A few minutes later, Barcelona scored its third goal anyway, as Yamal’s shot from deep in its own half ended with a shot that changed direction and reached Rafinha, who scored.

Barcelona scored their fourth goal when Olmo exploited the same part of the Betis area again, sending a pass to substitute Ferran Torres to shoot the ball confidently.

Yamal finally scored the goals himself after running down the right wing and finishing at the near post.

Roque reduced the deficit with a penalty kick in the final minutes for Betis after Kounde stood on the foot of Jesus Rodriguez inside the penalty area.

Javi said after the match that Yamal is the best player in the world after former Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, and Flick also praised the winger.

“Javi is very emotional, so I also say yes (he’s the best),” Flick joked.

“You can see that, in big matches you see great talent and he has shown that several times. He is on a good path.”

Yamal, who impressed for Spain when they won Euro 2024 last summer, has scored nine goals and provided 13 assists in all competitions for Barcelona this season.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone rested some of his key players, including Antoine Griezmann, as his team achieved comfortable victories in Elche to continue its winning streak.

Alexander Sorloth scored two goals for the Rojiblancos in the first half, and the visiting team’s strength increased when Elche player Nico Fernandez was sent off at the beginning of the second half.

Rodrigo Riquelme increased Atletico’s lead with a wonderful shot from a long distance, and Julian Alvarez completed the score.

On Thursday, Real Madrid, the Spanish champion, will host Celta Vigo, while Athletic Bilbao will host defending champion Osasuna.

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