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| Joao Felix of FC Barcelona celebrates 2-0 with Joao Cancelo of FC Barcelona, Gavi of FC Barcelona, Ferran Torres of FC Barcelona during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona v Real Betis Sevilla at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Barcelona Spain. |
Felix opened the scoring and Cancelo capped the biggest win so far this season for the defending champions.
Joao Felix and João Cancelo scored after making their first starts for Barcelona in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis in the Spanish league on Saturday. The pair of Portugal internationals made their debuts last round for Barcelona as substitutes two days after they joined the defending champions on loan just hours before the summer transfer market closed.
Felix opened the scoring and Cancelo capped the biggest win so far this season for the defending champions. “I would underscore that I see both (Félix and Cancelo) as very happy to be here and motivated to help the team,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández said. “They give us more variety and improve the team thanks to their individual talent, and today the team was brilliant.”
Félix scored in the 25th minute and then cleverly let a pass run between his legs in the area that Robert Lewandowski fired home to double the lead in the 32nd.
Ferran Torres, who also made his first start of the season, added a third goal in the 62nd when he became the first Barcelona player to score directly from a free kick since Lionel Messi did so against Valencia in May 2021, according to OPTA statistics.
After substitute Raphinha struck from just outside the area in the 66th, Cancelo topped the victory in the 81st with a great solo effort after he cut back twice to ditch his marker and beat goalkeeper Rui Silva from an angle.
Barcelona moved top of the league. It's one point ahead of Real Madrid which plays Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Barcelona hosts Antwerp on Tuesday to start its Champions League group campaign, while Atletico Madrid is at Lazio the same day.