
Audio By Carbonatix
Half-time substitute Lionel Messi turned the game around for Barcelona as they beat Real Betis for a first La Liga win in five games.
Ousmane Dembele gave Barca the lead with a powerful effort and Antoine Griezmann had a penalty saved.
Antonio Sanabria smashed home an equaliser just before half-time.
But Messi came on at the break and had a hand in Griezmann's equaliser and scored twice himself before teenager Pedri hit a late fifth.
The Barca captain dummied Alba's pass, taking two defenders and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo out of the equation, to leave Griezmann with a tap-in.
He then put Barca ahead from the penalty spot after Aissa Mandi was sent off for handling Dembele's shot on the line - a decision made after a lengthy video assistant referee review.
Messi played a one-two with Sergi Roberto, who backheeled the ball into his path and he smashed it into the roof of the net.
That was his first goal of the season for club or country which was not a penalty. The previous six had all been from the spot.
He thought he had a hat-trick afterwards but his goal was disallowed for a Roberto offside.
It was a much needed win for Ronald Koeman, whose side had only picked up two points from the previous four league games.
They move up to eighth, one point behind Real Betis.
Latest Stories
-
Korle-Klottey, Tema and Accra Metro lead HIV table in Greater Accra – AIDS Commission
32 minutes -
Stonebwoy, Fameye, DopeNation and Akwaboah to headline Ghana for Gold concert in Scotland on August 1
47 minutes -
NPP Ashanti Region clears 34 aspirants ahead of August 16 regional executive elections
1 hour -
GMet forecasts thunderstorms in northern Ghana as mist and fog affect southern areas
1 hour -
Three remanded over alleged lynching of man at Sabon Zongo in Kumasi
1 hour -
NACOC warns global drug traffickers are using cyberspace to expand synthetic drug operations
1 hour -
When everyone knows but no one speaks: The silence that sustains Academic Bullying
2 hours -
Photos : Mahama signs new GIPA Act into law to boost Ghana’s investment drive
2 hours -
Daily Insight for CEOs: Ecosystem leadership in a connected economy
2 hours -
Today’s front pages: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
2 hours -
World Gold Council commits US$250,000 grant to support Ghana’s responsible small-scale mining programme
2 hours -
Police arrest two at Asawase Market over suspected narcotic drugs concealed in fertiliser sacks
2 hours -
Accra to host Pan-African conference on economic restructuring, political reforms
2 hours -
When Chairman Wontumi’s 20-year sentence marks a turning point in the fight against political impunity
2 hours -
ADRA Ghana donates relief items, calls for sustainable recovery support for June 29 flood victims
2 hours