Torres bags hat-trick as Barcelona batter Betis 5-3

Barca top the standings on 40 points after 16 games

LaLiga - Real Betis v FC Barcelona - Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville, Spain - Dec 6, 2025 FC Barcelona's Ferran Torres scores their second goal REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo

Barcelona's Ferran Torres scored a first-half hat-trick as his side won 5-3 at Real Betis in LaLiga on Saturday, bouncing back after conceding an early goal to cruise to victory and extend their lead over Real Madrid at the summit to four points.

Barcelona went behind to an Antony goal in the sixth minute, but Torres struck twice to put them in the lead by the 13th minute, and Roony Bardghji made it 3-1 just after the half-hour mark with his first LaLiga goal for the club before Torres completed his hat-trick.

A Lamine Yamal penalty increased Barca's lead but Betis never gave up, with Diego Llorente reducing the deficit from a corner in the 85th minute and Cucho Hernandez adding a penalty five minutes later, but it proved too little, too late as Barca held on to win.

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 Madrid four points behind them with a game in hand. Betis are fifth on 24 points.