Ferran Torres Fires Barca Back into La Liga Title Race with Clinical Hat-Trick

Ferran Torres netted a stunning hat-trick as Barcelona kept themselves in the La Liga title race with a dramatic 4-2 victory over a spirited Real Betis.

Torres opened the scoring in the 21st minute, tapping in a Pedri cross from close range, and Barca were unfortunate not to be further ahead before the break, having two goals ruled out for offside.

The young Spaniard doubled his tally just after the restart, volleying in the rebound after Lamine Yamal’s shot hit the post.

However, Betis refused to lie down and fought back through Isco, who scored twice in three minutes to stun Xavi’s side.

Isco pulled one back in the 56th minute with a superb half volley following a mistake by keeper Inaki Pena, who flapped at a cross.

Despite an offside appeal, the former Real Madrid forward restored parity when he latched on to a ball over the top and dinked it over Pena.

Betis looked set to hold on to a battling point as the match headed towards the close, but Barca struck late twice.

Substitute Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico Madrid, played a one-two with Torres before he curled the ball into the corner using the outside of his boot.

Torres put the gloss on the result in the second minute of added time when he finished off a counter-attack to celebrate his first La Liga hat-trick.

The win keeps Barcelona seven points adrift of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, although that could increase to eight should Girona return to the summit on Sunday evening with victory over Sevilla.

Torres’ brilliant performance was the standout moment in a thrilling encounter, and his goals give Barca a much-needed boost in their quest to reclaim the La Liga title.