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Lamine Yamal put on a spectacular show as Barcelona moved into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a stunning 5-1 win over Real Betis on Wednesday.

Atlético Madrid joined them in the quarter-finals with a 4-0 win at second division Elche, their 15th successive triumph across all competitions.

Barca’s 17-year-old star Yamal scored two more goals to help Hansi Flick’s side run riot at the Olympic Stadium.

Gavi gave Barcelona an early lead, while Jules Kounde, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Yamal helped the Catalans to an impressive win.

After winning the Spanish Super Cup against Real Madrid in Saudi Arabia last weekend, Barca went into the cup clash with confidence restored after faltering in the final weeks of 2024.

“We have to keep it up,” said Barca defender Pau Cubarsi, also 17, who graduated from the club’s youth academy with Yamal.

“I enjoyed watching him for many years, now it’s the whole world and he deserves it all.”

Barca dominated from the start against Betis despite the coach resting some key players, including striker Robert Lewandowski.

Dani Olmo, for whom Barcelona controversially granted a temporary playing license last week, started on the false nine in place of the Polish veteran.

The Spaniard contributed to the opening goal with a great team effort at the end, and Gavi scored the goal in the second minute.

Olmo shot over the goal and hit the post in a particularly busy opening period for the former RB Leipzig playmaker.

Kounde scored in Barcelona’s second half after the outstanding Yamal passed a ball to him on the right side of the penalty area.

The Catalans repeatedly exploited this area, with Kounde’s second goal from a similar position disallowed for a minor offside position.

On the other hand, goalkeeper Inaki Pena made a great save to deny Vitor Roque, who was on loan to Betis from Barcelona.

At the start of the second half, Yamal, who constantly challenged the Betis defense, finished coldly after Frenkie De Jong passed the ball to him on the right side of the penalty area, but the ball was disallowed due to an offside position in advance.

Minutes later, Barcelona still scored their third goal when Yamal sent his deflected shot from deep in his own half into the hands of Raphinha, who struck.

Barcelona scored their fourth goal when Olmo again exploited the same part of the Betis penalty area and played a pass to substitute Ferran Torres, who confidently finished the ball.

Yamal finally got himself on the scoresheet after breaking down the right wing and finishing at the near post.

Roque scored a penalty for Betis in the closing stages after Kounde caught Jesus Rodriguez’s foot in the penalty area.

Gavi said after the game that Yamal was the best player in the world after former Barca striker Lionel Messi, and Flick also praised the winger.

“Gavi is very emotional, so I say yes (he is the best),” joked Flick.

“You can see it, in great games you see great talent and he has shown it many times, he is on the right track.”

Yamal, who shone for Spain when Spain won Euro 2024 last summer, has nine goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Barcelona this season.

Atletico coach Diego Simeone gave some of his regular players, including Antoine Griezmann, a rest as his team ran out comfortable winners in Elche and continued their winning streak.

Alexander Sorloth scored twice for Los Rojiblancos in the first half and the visitors were further boosted when Elche’s Nico Fernandez was sent off early in the second half.

Rodrigo Riquelme extended Atletico’s lead with a fine long-range shot and Julian Alvarez rounded off the defeat.

On Thursday, Spanish champions Real Madrid host Celta Vigo and cup winners Athletic Bilbao host Osasuna.

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