Hansi Flick declared Lamine Yamal the finest footballer on the planet after Barcelona crushed Real Betis 5-2 at La Cartuja stadium in Seville. According to Khaleej Times, the victory allowed the Catalan side to open up a five-point gap at the summit of La Liga. The teenager opened the scoring in the tenth minute by curling the ball into the top corner, a strike that Flick described as "unbelievable" in comments reported by the outlet. The win marked a new club record for league victories at the start of a campaign, matching the nine wins achieved by Real Madrid in the 1968/69 season. Khaleej Times noted that Flick’s team have now won 11 of their first 11 games across all competitions.
Real Betis lost Facundo Bernal to a red card for headbutting Yamal early in the second half, a moment that shifted the momentum decisively. Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo also scored for Barcelona, while Valentin Gomez and Ez Abde found the net for the hosts. A long-range goal by Giovani Lo Celso was initially celebrated but later ruled out for a handball by Cucho Hernandez. Flick substituted Yamal late in the match to manage his fitness ahead of the upcoming Clasico, telling reporters that he was "very proud" of the player’s performance. The article highlights that Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed when Betis equalized before the half-hour mark through a Gomez header.
In other La Liga action, Atletico Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 win at Espanyol through a late goal by Alex Baena in the 89th minute. Khaleej Times reported that Baena, who won the World Cup with Spain this summer, has been in fine form since the tournament, scoring his fifth league goal of the campaign. Coach Diego Simeone stated that the World Cup experience had made Baena more confident and stronger, describing him as the player the club had been looking for. Atletico have now won six consecutive games across all competitions, maintaining their second-place standing in the league. Real Madrid, currently fourth, are scheduled to host Sevilla on Sunday, while Barcelona will face Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.