• BARCELONA RATINGS v REAL BETIS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 7. He won’t be happy at conceding twice but he could do little about either Betis goal. He did, however, make a fine save to deny William Carvalho. AP
    BARCELONA RATINGS v REAL BETIS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen – 7. He won’t be happy at conceding twice but he could do little about either Betis goal. He did, however, make a fine save to deny William Carvalho. AP
  • Jordi Alba – 6. It was from Alba’s cross that Messi stepped over for Griezmann to convert to open the scoring, but he wasn’t allowed his usual space to roam forward. . EPA
    Jordi Alba – 6. It was from Alba’s cross that Messi stepped over for Griezmann to convert to open the scoring, but he wasn’t allowed his usual space to roam forward. . EPA
  • Gerard Pique – 6. Another tricky night for Pique, who’s decision making let him down. He reacted slowly on both occasions when Sanabria and Loren found the net. AP
    Gerard Pique – 6. Another tricky night for Pique, who’s decision making let him down. He reacted slowly on both occasions when Sanabria and Loren found the net. AP
  • Clement Lenglet – 6. Returning to the side after missing the game against Dynamo Kyiv in the week, he had a tough evening trying to contain Betis’ attackers. AFP
    Clement Lenglet – 6. Returning to the side after missing the game against Dynamo Kyiv in the week, he had a tough evening trying to contain Betis’ attackers. AFP
  • Sergi Roberto – 5. Despite returning to the side and registering two assists, for Messi and Pedri, he had a difficult afternoon trying to contain Christian Tello. Getty
    Sergi Roberto – 5. Despite returning to the side and registering two assists, for Messi and Pedri, he had a difficult afternoon trying to contain Christian Tello. Getty
  • Sergio Busquets – 5. A poor first half saw Busquets struggling to get his foot on the ball, but that improved as Barca edged ahead after the break. AFP
    Sergio Busquets – 5. A poor first half saw Busquets struggling to get his foot on the ball, but that improved as Barca edged ahead after the break. AFP
  • Frenkie De Jong – 6. Looked a threat in the Real Betis half and offered Barca plenty of options when going forward, but still failed to protect his defence at the other end. AFP
    Frenkie De Jong – 6. Looked a threat in the Real Betis half and offered Barca plenty of options when going forward, but still failed to protect his defence at the other end. AFP
  • Pedri – 6. The youngster scored Barca’s fifth goal but was quiet overall. There was the occasional glimpse of quality, but not enough consistency. EPA
    Pedri – 6. The youngster scored Barca’s fifth goal but was quiet overall. There was the occasional glimpse of quality, but not enough consistency. EPA
  • Ousmane Dembele – 7. A fine performance, he scored the opening goal with a ferocious shot that caught Claudio Bravo by surprise in the Betis goal. EPA
    Ousmane Dembele – 7. A fine performance, he scored the opening goal with a ferocious shot that caught Claudio Bravo by surprise in the Betis goal. EPA
  • Ansu Fati – 6. The 18-year-old was replaced at half-time but he actually had a good first half, coming close with several attempts on goal. AP
    Ansu Fati – 6. The 18-year-old was replaced at half-time but he actually had a good first half, coming close with several attempts on goal. AP
  • Antoine Griezmann – 7. The Frenchman missed a penalty, and a couple of chances in the first half, but he made up for it with a confidence-boosting goal by converting following Messi’s neat stepover. AFP
    Antoine Griezmann – 7. The Frenchman missed a penalty, and a couple of chances in the first half, but he made up for it with a confidence-boosting goal by converting following Messi’s neat stepover. AFP
  • SUBSTITUES: Lionel Messi – 8. Surprisingly left on the bench, the Argentine came on and made an impression after just four minutes. His movement enabled Greizmann to score, and he then grabbed two himself in an impressive cameo. Changed the game. EPA
    SUBSTITUES: Lionel Messi – 8. Surprisingly left on the bench, the Argentine came on and made an impression after just four minutes. His movement enabled Greizmann to score, and he then grabbed two himself in an impressive cameo. Changed the game. EPA
  • Francisco Trincao – 7. One of Barca’s better substitutions, he managed to get involved quickly and was always a threat as Barca turned on the style. AP
    Francisco Trincao – 7. One of Barca’s better substitutions, he managed to get involved quickly and was always a threat as Barca turned on the style. AP
  • Martin Braithwaite – 6. A disappointing evening for the Dane who came off the bench but struggled to get involved in the play. Reuters
    Martin Braithwaite – 6. A disappointing evening for the Dane who came off the bench but struggled to get involved in the play. Reuters
  • Miralem Pjanic – 6. Came on for the final five minutes as the home side tried to close the game out. Getty
    Miralem Pjanic – 6. Came on for the final five minutes as the home side tried to close the game out. Getty

Substitute Lionel Messi 8, Griezmann 7, Fati 6: Barcelona player ratings v Real Betis


  • English
  • Arabic

Lionel Messi came on at half-time and scored twice for Barcelona, including his first goal from open play this season, in a 5-2 win over Real Betis.

Messi had been rested by Ronald Koeman but was thrown on with the game in the balance after Antoine Griezmann missed a penalty in the Argentine's absence, before Antonio Sanabria cancelled out Ousmane Dembele's opener.

But within four minutes of his introduction, Messi set up Griezmann an open goal with a superb dummy and then scored twice himself, the first a penalty that saw Betis' Aissa Mandi sent off for a handball on the line.

In between, Loren Moron had given Betis brief hope but Messi's second and a late strike from Pedri ensured Barcelona ended their four-match winless run and climbed to eighth in La Liga.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.