Soccer Football - Copa del Rey - Round of 16 - FC Barcelona v Real Betis - Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain - January 15, 2025 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal scores their fifth goal REUTERS/Albert Gea
BARCELONA (Reuters) -Barcelona's teenage forward Lamine Yamal was in inspired form, scoring once and making two assists, as they thrashed Real Betis 5-1 on Wednesday to book their spot in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.
Flying high after their 5-2 demolition of rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, Barcelona didn't even need their full arsenal to swat aside fellow LaLiga outfit Betis.
Coach Hansi Flick rested several starters such as Robert Lewandowski, Marc Casado and Alejandro Balde.
They dominated proceedings from the start and it took three minutes for them to open the scoring with Gavi slotting in a low strike from Dani Olmo's assist.
Olmo almost extended Barca's lead with a fine strike from inside the box that hit the post in the 20th minute, before Jules Kounde put them 2-0 up in the 27th, firing home a volley from close range after a stunning lobbed pass by Yamal.
After efforts from Kounde and Yamal were ruled out by the VAR for offside, Raphinha scored Barca's third in the 58th minute, netting from a counter-attack started by Yamal.
Substitute Ferran Torres netted the fourth in the 67th minute with a strike from inside the box from an Olmo cross and Yamal scored the fifth from a quick counter-attack in the 75th.
The goal was first ruled out for an offside but the decision was quickly corrected by the VAR.
Brazilian forward Vitor Roque, who is on-loan from Barcelona, scored a consolation for Betis from the penalty spot in the 84th minute.
Earlier on Wednesday, Getafe, who finished the game with nine men, beat fourth-tier Pontevedra 1-0 thanks to an early goal scored by Alvaro Rodriguez, who was sent off in the 41st minute with a straight red card for punching an opponent in the face.
Getafe then had Diego Rico sent off for a second booking in added time.
Leganes fought back to knock Spanish second division leaders Almeria out with a 3-2 victory, while Atletico Madrid dispatched Elche with a 4-0 win.
After Valencia knocked out third-tier side Ourense 2-0 on Tuesday, the Copa del Rey quarter-finals will feature eight teams from LaLiga as Athletic Bilbao will face Osasuna and Real Sociedad play Rayo Vallecano in the two remaining last-16 matches on Thursday.
(Reporting by Fernando KallasEditing by Toby Davis)
