Izuchukwu OkosiBarcelona on Saturday night made little work of their clash against Real Betis as they comfortably beat the visitors to continue their impressive start to the 2023/2024 La Liga season.
Joao Felix who is on loan from fellow La Liga title rivals, Atletico Madrid, scored a goal and was awarded the Man-of-Match award in the game.
Felix fired Barcelona ahead, with further goals from Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres and Raphinha sinking the visitors, before Cancelo capped off a brilliant evening with a piece of individual effort.
Barcelona’s emphatic victory places them provisionally top of the table, a point clear of rivals Real Madrid who host Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Barcelona played with a vibrancy they lacked at times last season, even as they lifted La Liga, warming up for their Champions League opener on Tuesday against Royal Antwerp.
Felix is expected to be in action on Tuesday.
Felix was at the core of it with an impressive display after Xavi handed him and compatriot Cancelo their first starts for the club following loan moves on deadline day and both quickly impressed the home fans.
“I’m very happy to be starting again, the feelings are very good — it’s easy to play in this team,” Felix told Movistar.
“When you have a good structure and circulate the ball rapidly, spaces appear and so do goals.”
Felix, signed by Atletico Madrid for a club record fee of 126 million euros ($134 million) in 2019, failed to find consistent form in the capital and was loaned to Chelsea last season.
“I am happy, the change has done me good, me and my family, I am very happy here,” he added.
Betis, lining up with a back four composed only of former Barcelona players, played with attacking intent, unlike many other teams who will visit the temporary Olympic Stadium home of the Spanish champions.
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