Ferran Torres’ superb hat-trick secures an exhilarating victory for Xavi’s team in La Liga, as Barcelona triumphs 4-2 against Real Betis.

Ferran Torres produced a magnificent hat-trick as Barcelona closed the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to seven points in a thrilling 4-2 victory over Real Betis. The match, held at the Benito Villamarin in Seville, saw Xavi’s men take control with Torres finding the back of the net on 21 and 48 minutes to give Barca a commanding 2-0 lead.

Manuel Pellegrini’s home side had been passive until that point, but they quickly turned the game around when Isco scored two sublime finishes on 56 and 59 minutes, leveling the score at 2-2. With the match raging from end to end, the winner could have come from either side, but it was Barca who applied the finishing touch to a clinical attacking move. Substitute João Félix played provider as Torres netted with the outside of his boot in the final minute.

To complete his outstanding performance, Torres sealed his hat-trick in added time when he latched onto a pass from the impressive Lamine Yamal and executed a superb chipped finish. This crucial victory secured three vital points for the visitors.

Barcelona currently sit in third place in the standings with 44 points from 20 matches, trailing Real Madrid by seven points. Real Madrid themselves secured a 3-2 win over Almeria earlier in the day, moving two points clear of Girona in second place.

Now, let’s take a look at the match highlights.

In the 21st minute, Barcelona took the lead with a goal from Torres. Pedri delivered a fantastic cross from the right, and Torres calmly tapped it home. There was a moment of uncertainty as VAR reviewed the goal, but it was ultimately ruled onside, much to the delight of the traveling fans.

In the 48th minute, Torres doubled his tally for the night. After a cross from Yamal, the ball rebounded kindly off the bar and fell to Torres, who thumped it into the net. Yamal’s contribution to the goal was commendable, showcasing fine play.

Real Betis fought back in the 56th minute when Isco capitalized on a mistake by the Barcelona goalkeeper. Pena failed to deal with a cross, palming it back into the traffic, and Isco unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner. This goal brought Betis back into the game.

Just four minutes later, Isco struck again, completing his brace and leveling the score at 2-2. He chipped the ball over Pena with finesse, confirming his onside position with the help of VAR. The match was finely poised, and Barcelona needed to respond.

In the 89th minute, Barcelona found the breakthrough they were searching for. João Félix displayed brilliant finishing skills as he received a pass from Torres at the edge of the box. The two players combined with a quick one-two, and João Félix expertly used the outside of his right boot to find the back of the net. This goal seemed to be the winner for Barcelona.

However, Torres wasn’t finished yet. In the 93rd minute, he completed his hat-trick with a delightful chip over the Betis goalkeeper, Silva. Yamal once again provided the assist with a perfectly weighted pass, sealing the victory for Barcelona with a 4-2 lead.

A key statistic from the match is yet to be revealed.