Euro wrap: Yamal perfect 10 as Barcelona and Torres batter Betis
Barcelona's Spanish forward Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring a hat-trick against Real Betis (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP via Getty Images
Ferran Torres scored a first-half hat-trick as Barcelona won 5-3 at Real Betis in LaLiga on Saturday, bouncing back after conceding an early goal to extend their lead over Real Madrid at the summit to four points.
Antony marked his return from suspension by scoring from Betis' first attack in the sixth minute, with Jules Kounde playing the winger onside as he rifled the ball into the net.
The fullback made amends as Barcelona levelled five minutes later with a typically expansive passing move punctuated by Torres, who deftly steered Kounde's centre in at the near post.
With the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong left on Barca's bench, Torres seized his chance and struck again in the 13th minute, Roony Bardghji crossing for him to score with a sumptuous volley that went through the legs of Betis keeper Alvaro Valles.
With Barcelona dominating, Bardghji netted his first LaLiga goal for the club to make it 3-1 in the 31st minute and Torres completed his hat-trick five minutes before the break with a shot that took a heavy deflection before flying into the net.
A Lamine Yamal penalty increased Barca's lead just before the hour mark, but Betis never gave up, Diego Llorente steering the ball into the net from a flicked-on corner in the 85th minute.
Kounde was in the thick of things again late on, fouling Abdessamad Ezzalzouli in the box to concede a penalty that was scored by Cucho Hernandez in the 90th minute, but it proved too little, too late for Betis.
Earlier in the afternoon, third-placed Villarreal beat Getafe 2-0, while a penalty in first-half stoppage time gave Deportivo Alaves a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in their mid-table clash.
Barcelona top the standings on 40 points after 16 games, with Real Madrid four points behind them with a game in hand. Betis are fifth on 24 points.
"I think the first half was very good, and I think we were very tired towards the end of the second ... I want to be positive in my assessment of this match, but we're certainly going to analyse everything, and the important thing is that we won," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said.
"I started Ferran Torres, and I knew this is his stadium. He's scored here many times, even for the national team before ... he's confident in himself, and that's crucial for a striker," he added.
Flick said his decision to play Yamal in a playmaking role also paid off, with the 18-year-old happy to take on more responsibility in the middle of the field.
"I saw Lamine playing well, defensively as well. He worked well with the rest of his teammates. He's one of the options we have, we decided that with the coaches. We asked him if he'd like to play in the '10' role and he said yes," Flick explained.
Elsewhere, Athletic Bilbao's Alex Berenguer scored an 85th-minute winner as they beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home on Saturday, dealing a serious blow to the visitors' title hopes.
There were plenty of fireworks in the game, but little in the way of goal-scoring chances as both sides struggled to get shots on target, and when they did, the two goalkeepers showed that they were in fine form.
Bilbao's Unai Simon pulled off a superb first-half save with his right foot to deny Thiago Almada, and Jan Oblak came to Madrid's rescue to prevent Nico Williams from scoring in the second half.
Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth came off the bench in the 62nd minute and almost gave his side the lead 22 minutes later, but again Simon came to his side's rescue, and this time it was to be even more decisive.
He quickly restarted play and the ball made its way to Williams on the right. The winger rattled the ball across the face of the penalty area for the onrushing Berenguer to fire home the winner.
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In Serie A, Inter Milan moved provisionally top with a comfortable 4-0 win over Como at the San Siro on Saturday, where the home side ended the visitors' 11-match undefeated league run.
Como's last loss came back in August, but Inter proved too strong a challenge and they are the first team to score more than one goal against Cesc Fabregas' side this season.
"Today we showed all our strength, against a squad with a trainer who plays good football and with strong players," Inter forward Lautaro Martinez told DAZN.
"Today we showed the desire to bring points home, a very important win."
Inter are on 30 points, two ahead of AC Milan, who are away to Torino on Monday, and Napoli, who host Juventus on Sunday. Como are sixth in the standings on 24 points.
"I think the defeat can be healthy," Fabregas told DAZN.
"When everyone is complimentary you don't grow much, whereas a heavy loss can lead to different reflections."
The hosts went on the attack from the off, with Lautaro Martinez's chipped effort in the opening seconds deflected out for a corner by Como defender Diego Carlos.
Nicolo Barella had a shot saved by the outstretched leg of keeper Jean Butez but the goal was not long in coming, with Inter taking the lead in the 11th minute.
Luis Henrique took the ball from inside his own half into the box and his pass picked out Martinez who hit his first-time shot beyond Butez.
Como lost striker Alvaro Morata to injury with just over half an hour gone and they failed to register an effort on target before the break in a below-par performance.
The visitors finally created some danger when Jesus Rodriguez crossed to the back post but Tasos Douvikas, who replaced Morata, somehow sent the ball over the bar from close range.
Alex Valle then headed over from a floated Nico Paz ball into the box, but just as Como finally came out of their shell, Inter doubled their lead in the 59th minute.
Federico Dimarco's corner bypassed everyone at the front post and Marcus Thuram stuck out a foot to poke home from just in front of the keeper.
"In our best moment, they scored in a moment that was a bit embarrassing on our part," Fabregas added.
Hakan Calhanoglu put an end to any hope of a late Como comeback nine minutes from time when he collected a clearance outside the area and drilled his strike past a flat-footed Butez.
Inter continued to pour forward and Carlos Augusto hammered home from a Dimarco cross with four minutes remaining to wrap up a statement win against what should have been a tricky opponent.





