Real Betis were left with 10 players after Facundo Bernal was shown a straight red card for headbutting Lamine Yamal during their La Liga encounter at La Cartuja on Saturday.
The incident took place in the 54th minute, shortly after Abde Ezzalzouli reduced the deficit to 2-3.
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It proved to be a crucial moment as Barcelona eventually secured a 5-2 victory to maintain their perfect start to the season.
The confrontation erupted moments after Ezzalzouli scored on the counter-attack. Fermin Lopez was lying on the pitch and appeared to be injured following a challenge during the build-up, leading to protests from several Betis players.
Yamal then approached the scene and pushed Bernal during the heated exchange. The Betis midfielder responded by grabbing the Barcelona youngster’s head and delivering a headbutt.
🎥 | The fight between Lamine Yamal and Facundo Bernal during today’s match against Real Betis. 😳😡 pic.twitter.com/rXXbRLJL5o
— Access Yamal (@AccessYamal) October 17, 2026
Referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea immediately sent Bernal off for violent conduct, while Yamal received a yellow card for his initial shove.
Video replays showed clear contact with the head, making it difficult to dispute the seriousness of Bernal’s reaction.
The dismissal was issued for striking an opponent in the head, an offence classified as violent conduct under the Laws of the Game.
While Yamal made the first physical move by pushing Bernal, the midfielder’s subsequent headbutt was considered an excessive and aggressive response.
Match officials and analysts regarded the incident as a clear red-card offence, with no earlier foul by Betis players providing justification for the escalation.
Bernal’s dismissal forced Betis to play the remaining 36 minutes, plus stoppage time, with 10 men.
Barcelona had already established a 3-1 advantage thanks to Yamal’s early long-range effort, Rodri’s header from a Fermin Lopez corner, and Gabriel Jesus’s close-range strike.
Following the sending-off, Eric Garcia increased Barcelona’s lead by scoring after a Yamal free-kick was blocked. Substitute Dani Olmo then completed the scoring with a well-taken finish to secure the 5-2 win.
Meanwhile, Gerard Martin was replaced at half-time as a precaution after experiencing an ankle problem during an early aerial duel with Cucho Hernandez. Eric Garcia came on in his place.
Hansi Flick’s team recorded their 11th consecutive victory in all competitions this season, moving five points clear at the summit of La Liga.
Having gained a numerical advantage following Bernal’s dismissal, Barcelona were able to dictate the closing stages of an entertaining and high-scoring encounter.
Ultimately, Bernal’s headbutt on Yamal became the afternoon’s defining incident, leaving Betis a man down and making Barcelona’s task of securing all three points considerably easier.
