Barcelona coach Hansi Flick hailed Lamine Yamal as the best player in the world after his side thrashed Real Betis 5-2 to equal the best ever start to a LaLiga season.
Yamal, 19, opened the scoring in Seville with a stunning solo goal as Barça notched a ninth straight win to match Real Madrid’s record, set in 1961-62 and 1968-69.
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The Spain international has now scored nine goals and assisted another nine in 11 appearances this season in all competitions.
“It was an intense match,” Flick said in the postgame news conference. “It was an amazing match, for the fans, all the people who love football, it was amazing.
“Lamine today also, when you see the first goal … unbelievable. This is for me, at the moment, the best player in the world. I am very happy about his performance.
“Of course he has a lot of pressure. He is only 19, but he’s 100% focused, committed with everything. His performance and attitude were amazing. This is how big, big players are.”
Yamal’s strike in the 10th minute set the tone for a wild encounter. Valentín Gómez drew the home side level before the half-hour mark, only for Rodri, with his first goal for Barça, to restore the Blaugrana’s lead in the 41st minute.
A Giovani Lo Celso goal was then ruled out due to a handball in the build-up by Cucho Hernández before Gabriel Jesus made it 3-1 to Barça early in the second half.
Abde Ezzalzouli responded almost immediately to bring Betis back into the game again, but in the aftermath of the celebrations, Facundo Bernal was sent off for head-butting Yamal.
Barça took full advantage of having an additional player for the final half an hour, with Eric García and Dani Olmo completing the rout.
Flick’s side have now won all nine of their LaLiga games, scoring 39 goals — 20 more than any other team in the division — and will set a new record for the best start to a campaign if they beat Madrid in next Sunday’s Clásico.
“This is nice, but we want to win titles,” the German coach added of Barça’s record-equaling start. “We want to achieve bigger things. This is why we are playing football.
“We are fighting for this, not for records. They are nice to have, but it’s all about this. The mentality, how we play together, it’s fantastic, and also work together, against the ball, without the ball, it’s amazing.”
Including the Champions League, Barça have now won 11 games in a row this season, but their winning streak will be tested in two grueling encounters over the next week.
They travel to European champions Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday and then host Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou in the league next weekend.
Raphinha should be available for both of those fixtures after returning from a hamstring injury to feature off the bench for 20 minutes against Betis.
García, Gerard Martín and Jules Koundé all picked up knocks in the win, though, with Flick saying they will undergo tests back in Barcelona on Sunday.
