Barcelona equal La Liga record with 9-win start, Clásico next
Synopsis
Barcelona's 5-2 win over Betis wasn't just another three points — it matched a record that has stood since 1968/69, when Real Madrid last won nine straight to open a La Liga season. With 39 goals scored and only nine conceded, Flick's side has already surpassed the 2013/14 Messi-era team. Now only Real Madrid stand between Barcelona and an outright piece of history — next Sunday at Camp Nou.
Key Takeaways
FC Barcelona beat Real Betis 5-2 on 18 October 2026 to go nine wins from nine in La Liga 2026/27 .
The result equals Real Madrid's record start from the 1968/69 season — the best ever in La Liga history.
Barcelona have scored 39 goals and conceded just nine in those nine games.
Lamine Yamal , Rodri , Gabriel Jesus , Eric García , and Dani Olmo scored; Facundo Bernal was sent off for Betis.
A win in next Sunday's Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou would give Barcelona an outright record of 10 wins from 10 to open a La Liga season.
FC Barcelona matched Real Madrid's historic record for the best start to a La Liga season, securing a 5-2 victory over Real Betis on 18 October 2026 to make it nine wins from nine in the 2026/27 campaign. The result equals the benchmark set by Real Madrid in the 1968/69 season, when Los Blancos won their opening nine league fixtures — and sets up a blockbuster Clásico next Sunday that could hand Barcelona the outright record.
The Historic Milestone
Real Madrid's 1968/69 side had won their first nine La Liga matches, scoring 21 goals in the process. Hansi Flick's Barcelona have now matched that run with considerably more firepower — 39 goals scored and just nine conceded across those nine games. Notably, the previous best Barça start in the modern era was the 2013/14 side coached by Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, which featured Lionel Messi, Pedro, and Neymar but was held to a goalless draw by Osasuna in Pamplona after eight consecutive wins. Flick's current team has already surpassed that famous vintage.
How the Betis Match Unfolded
The game, arguably Barcelona's stiffest test of the season so far, came against a Betis side that entered the fixture third in the table. Barcelona took the lead in the 10th minute when Lamine Yamal curled a left-footed shot into the corner, leaving Betis goalkeeper Álvaro Vallés helpless. Valentín Gómez equalised with a powerful header from Pablo Fornals' cross in the 27th minute, but Barcelona retook the lead in the 41st when Rodri headed home after Vallés misjudged a corner.
Betis appeared to level again a minute later through Giovani Lo Celso's volley, but VAR disallowed the strike for a handball by Cucho Hernández in the build-up. Yamal then turned provider, teeing up Gabriel Jesus to score Barcelona's third in the 51st minute. Betis pulled one back through Abde Ezzalzouli just two minutes later, keeping the tie alive.
Betis Reduced to Ten Men
The contest shifted decisively when Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal was sent off following a flashpoint with Yamal, in which Bernal reportedly grabbed the forward by the neck before headbutting him. The red card handed Barcelona a numerical advantage they did not waste. Eric García added a fourth in the 62nd minute, and Dani Olmo sealed the win with a strike in the 81st, completing a 5-2 scoreline.
What Comes Next: The Clásico Decider
All roads now lead to next Sunday's Clásico at Spotify Camp Nou, where Barcelona will face none other than Real Madrid in a league fixture that carries historic weight beyond just three points. A win would give Flick's side an outright record — 10 wins from 10 to open a La Liga season — surpassing a mark that has stood for over half a century. Real Madrid, meanwhile, will be equally motivated to deny their great rivals that distinction.
Point of View
And a goals-against column that suggests defensive discipline to match the attacking flair. The Clásico now functions as a referendum on whether this is the real article or another false dawn. Real Madrid, who set the record in 1968/69, will not willingly hand it over — which makes next Sunday one of the most consequential Clásicos in years.
NationPress
18 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What La Liga record have Barcelona equalled in 2026/27?
Barcelona have equalled Real Madrid's record for the best start in La Liga history — nine consecutive wins to open a season, a mark Real Madrid set in 1968/69. Flick's side achieved it with a 5-2 victory over Real Betis on 18 October 2026, having scored 39 goals and conceded just nine across those nine games.
What was the score in Barcelona vs Real Betis on 18 October 2026?
Barcelona won 5-2. Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García, and Dani Olmo scored for Barcelona, while Valentín Gómez and Abde Ezzalzouli replied for Betis. Betis midfielder Facundo Bernal was sent off late in the match.
How can Barcelona break the La Liga record outright?
Barcelona will claim the record for themselves by winning their next La Liga fixture — the Clásico against Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou next Sunday. A victory would make it 10 wins from 10 to open a La Liga season, surpassing a record that has stood since 1968/69.
How does Flick's Barcelona compare to the 2013/14 Messi-era side?
The 2013/14 Barça under Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, featuring Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Pedro, won their first eight matches before being held to a goalless draw by Osasuna. Flick's 2026/27 side has already surpassed that record and done so with a significantly higher goal tally.
Who are the key players driving Barcelona's record start?
Lamine Yamal has been central, both as a scorer and creator, and contributed directly against Betis with a goal and an assist. Rodri, Gabriel Jesus, Eric García, and Dani Olmo all also got on the scoresheet against Betis, highlighting the squad depth underpinning the run.
