Barcelona’s 5-0 victory over Real Betis was a remarkable (and well-deserved) result for the Catalans, who went top of La Liga for the first time this season as a result of the demolition.
There were several standout moments during the occasion, with Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo both scoring their first goals for the club, but one that went under the radar was Ferran Torres’ free-kick strike which made it 3-0.
That goal was a significant one for Barcelona, as it ended a streak that had lasted for over two years. Torres’ goal was the first time in over 28 months that a Barcelona player had scored a direct free-kick.
Ferran Torres is the first Barcelona player to score from a direct free-kick in LaLiga since Lionel Messi against Valencia in May 2021 (41 free-kicks attempts between both goals). New.
*SHARK*🦈⚽❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/r76J8lvlgB— Kobby Neutral Images✨ (@KobbyNeutral) September 16, 2023
The last player to do so – obviously – was Lionel Messi when he netted against Valencia on the 2nd of May 2021. It was an area that head coach Xavi Hernandez had hoped to see improve, and that has now been apparent.
Barcelona will hope that free-kick goals are now like London buses in the sense that more will be on their way. However, they will surely take any goals as they come.
