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La Liga | Gameweek 9
Nov 7, 2020 at 3.15pm UK
Camp Nou
RB

Barcelona
5 - 2
Real Betis

Dembele (22'), Griezmann (49'), Messi (61' pen., 82'), Pedri (90')
Fati (37'), Pedri (41')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Sanabria (45+2'), Moron (73')
Mandi (32'), Moreno (45')
Mandi (60')

Messi comes off bench to inspire Barcelona to victory over Real Betis

:Headline: Result: Messi comes off bench to inspire Barcelona to victory over Real Betis: ID:421513: from db_amp
Antonio Sanabria had equalised for Betis in first-half stoppage time

Lionel Messi came off the bench at half-time to score twice as Barcelona beat 10-man Real Betis 5-2 at the Nou Camp.

Ousmane Dembele had given the home side the lead after 22 minutes, before Antoine Griezmann's penalty was saved and Antonio Sanabria equalised in first-half stoppage time.

Messi, though, made an instant impact as his clever stepover set up Griezmann five minutes after the restart and he then converted a penalty after Aissa Mandi was shown a red card for handball on the line following VAR review.

Loren Moron set up a tense final 15 minutes, but Messi settled matters with another late third goal and Pedri added a fifth as Ronald Koeman's side closed out a much-needed LaLiga victory.

Barcelona went in front after 22 minutes when Dembele collected a ball from Griezmann on the right before cutting back inside to fire a left-footed shot past Claudio Bravo and into the top corner.

After Griezmann hit a post, Barcelona were awarded a penalty in the 32nd minute when Fati was bundled over – only for the World Cup-winning French striker to see his spot-kick saved.

Real Betis equalised in first-half stoppage time when Sanabria slotted the ball in after Cristian Tello's cross from the left was not cleared.

Messi replaced teenager Fati for the second half – and made an instant impact to set up Griezmann in the 49th minute.

Jordi Alba sent a cross in from the left, which Messi jumped over to let the ball run to an unmarked Griezmann, who tapped into the net.

As the hour mark passed, Betis found themselves down to 10 men following a VAR review of handball.

Messi took the ball around the goalkeeper and cut a pass back for Dembele, whose shot was blocked on the line by Mandi.

The incident was reviewed by VAR, with the referee deciding to take a look on the pitchside monitor, before deciding it was handball and showing Mandi a red card.

Messi converted a penalty to give Barcelona some breathing space (Joan Monfort/AP)

Messi made no mistake from the penalty spot, drilling the ball into the top corner, to give Barcelona some breathing space.

Betis set up a tense final 15 minutes when Loren slotted home from 10 yards, but Messi wrapped things up in the 82nd minute after a one-two with Sergi Roberto.

The Argentinian playmaker was denied his hat-trick by an offside flag before midfielder Pedri added a fifth in stoppage time – the teenager's first goal in LaLiga.

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last updated article - 2020-11-07 17:45:12:
html db last update - 2020-11-07 17:45:12 :

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1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
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