Barcelona's Thrilling 4-2 Win Eases Xavi's Strain

Barcelona's Thrilling 4-2 Win Eases Xavi's Strain

Ferran Torres left winger of Barcelona and Spain celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Betis and FC Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on January 21, 2024 in Seville, Spain.(Image-Getty)

 Barcelona clinched a dramatic 4-2 victory over Real Betis in a crucial LaLiga match on Sunday, securing stoppage-time goals from substitute Joao Felix and a hat-trick-completing strike by Ferran Torres. The win eased pressure on manager Xavi Hernandez during a challenging season.

Currently standing third in LaLiga with 44 points, Barcelona remains seven points behind leaders Real Madrid and trails second-placed Girona by five points. The victory came after Barcelona's recent setbacks, including a defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final and a challenging win against Unionistas in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.

Torres initiated the scoring in the 21st minute, tapping in a cross from Pedri, and extended Barcelona's lead with a rebound goal in the 49th minute after a Lamine Yamal strike hit the crossbar. Betis responded strongly, with Isco netting two goals in four minutes to level the score.

In the 91st minute, Joao Felix capitalized on a swift counter-attack, delivering a precise finish from the edge of the box. In added time, Torres secured his third goal and Barcelona's fourth, sealing a hard-fought victory and handing Betis their first home loss of the season.

Manager Xavi acknowledged the team's tense moments, stating, "We were very good with a two-goal lead, but then it got complicated with a mistake by our defense, which made us a bit tense. We should have won the game earlier, but we managed to win in a stadium where nobody had won before. We didn't play a great game, because of the two goals we conceded, but it was a great game. Let's move forward."