- Palestinians return to north Gaza after breakthrough on hostages
- Taiwan identifies 52 'suspicious' Chinese ships for close monitoring
- Chinese lion dance troupe shrugs off patriarchal past
- India boosts domestic arms industry and looks West to pare back Russia reliance
- Troubled European carmakers to talk fines and EVs with EU
- Bird feathers and bloodstains found in Jeju jet engines: report
- World marks 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation
- West Indies win Test in Pakistan for first time in 35 years
- South Korea president's indictment: what happens next?
- Lappartient aims for IOC presidency and world harmony
- Japan's Fuji TV faces heat over sex allegations
- Jennifer Lopez bring 1950s Hollywood 'diva' to Sundance indie fest
- Chiefs beat Bills, seek Super Bowl 'three-peat' against Eagles
- Weak yuan, Trump tariff threats confound Beijing's economic puzzle
- Sinner destined for greatness -- but first comes doping hearing
- Japan's Osaka bans street smoking ahead of Expo 2025
- Mahomes and Chiefs eye historic Super Bowl 'three-peat' after beating Bills
- Asian stocks mixed as tariff fears return, new AI programme emerges
- ECB to cut rates again, with a nervous eye on Trump
- Thunder hold off Trail Blazers for bounce-back win
- Bittersweet return for Syrians with killed, missing relatives
- With Trump win, Silicon Valley's right flank takes on Washington
- Gunfire in DR Congo's Goma as Kenya pushes peace talks
- New film claims 'Napalm Girl' photo credited to wrong journalist
- Eagles reach Super Bowl with 55-23 win over Commanders
- Amorim says 63-year-old coach better chance of playing than Rashford
- Universal, Spotify ink multi-year deal
- Barca shred Valencia to restore La Liga shine
- Marseille miss chance to close gap on PSG with Nice defeat
- Man Utd grind out Fulham win thanks to Martinez winner
- Villa boss Emery interested in reunion with Villarreal's Foyth
- Palestinian voices take center stage at Sundance
- Trump slaps sanctions after Colombia defies deportation push
- DR Congo urges UN to punish Rwanda for 'declaration of war'
- Mel Gibson's 'Flight Risk' lands atop N.America box office
- Inter thump Lecce to stay in touch with Serie A leaders Napoli
- Lukashenko extends three-decade rule in election deonounced by West
- 'Who knows?': Postecoglou uncertain over future after new 'low' for Spurs
- Undersea cable between Sweden and Latvia damaged: Swedish PM
- Colombia to block US deportation flights amid growing LatAm pushback
- Son slams 'sloppy' Spurs as pressure mounts on Postecoglou
- Hoffenheim snatch last-gasp draw against Frankfurt
- Trump's first week: everything, everywhere, all at once
- Postecoglou under fire as Leicester stun troubled Spurs
- Idao de Tillard defends Prix d'Amerique crown for father and son
- UN chief calls for Rwanda to stop advance on key DR Congo city
- Van der Poel gears up for worlds with cyclo-cross double
- Lukashenko set to extend three-decade rule in Belarus
- Sinner says clear mind over doping saga helped him win in Melbourne
- 'Only thing that matters': Vonn sets sights on world championships
Yamal drives dominant Barca past Betis into Copa del Rey quarters
Lamine Yamal starred as Barcelona sailed into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a dazzling 5-1 victory over Real Betis on Wednesday.
Barca's 17-year-old starlet Yamal scored and helped create two more goals as Hansi Flick's side ran riot at the Olympic Stadium.
Gavi sent Barcelona ahead early on, with Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Yamal helping the Catalans rack up an impressive win.
After winning the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia last weekend by thrashing Real Madrid, Barca came into the cup clash with restored confidence, having stuttered in the final weeks of 2024.
They dominated from the off against Betis, despite the coach resting a couple of key players including striker Robert Lewandowski.
Dani Olmo, whom Barcelona controversially obtained a temporary playing license for last week, started at false nine in place of the Polish veteran.
The Spaniard helped create the opening goal at the sharp end of a neat team move, with Gavi tucking home in the second minute.
Olmo fired over and hit the post during a particularly busy opening period for the former RB Leipzig playmaker.
Kounde smashed in Barcelona's second after the sublime Yamal dinked a ball through to him on the right of the box.
It was an area the Catalans exploited time after time, with Kounde's second goal from a similar position disallowed for a marginal offside.
At the other end goalkeeper Inaki Pena made a fine save to deny Vitor Roque, on loan at Betis from Barcelona.
Early in the second half Yamal finished clinically after Frenkie De Jong lobbed the ball through to him on the right of the box, but it was disallowed for an offside in the build-up.
Minutes later Barcelona scored their third anyway, with Yamal's surging run from deep in his own half ending up with his deflected effort falling to Raphinha, who struck.
Barcelona netted their fourth when, again exploiting the same part of Betis' area, Olmo chipped a pass to substitute Ferran Torres to finish emphatically.
Yamal finally got on the scoresheet himself after breaking in from the right wing and finishing at the near post.
Roque pulled one back from the penalty spot in the final stages for Betis after Kounde stood on Jesus Rodriguez's foot in the penalty area.
On Thursday Spanish champions Real Madrid host Celta Vigo and cup holders Athletic Bilbao welcome Osasuna.
F.Cardoso--PC