The Catalans opened the scoring thanks to a recovery from the right of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after a header from Gerard Piqué which hit the crossbar (37th), then doubled the lead in the second period thanks to a powerful shot from the left of Dembélé (73rd), before sealing their victory thanks to two goals from the Dutch Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay at the very end of the match (90th, 90th + 4).

The joy of Gabonese midfielder Barcelona Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, after opening the scoring against Athletic Bilbao, at the end of the 26th day of La Liga, February 27, 2022 at Camp Nou Pau BARRENA AFP

Whistled by Camp Nou when he entered the game in place of Ferran Torres (67th), Dembélé once again turned the boos into applause with this goal scored from a very tight angle.

Barcelona's French striker Ousmane Dembélé scores the second goal against Athletic Bilbao, at the end of the 26th day of La Liga, on February 27, 2022 at Camp Nou Pau BARRENA AFP

The ambidextrous French international, who entered the left lane, celebrated his goal surrounded by all his teammates, a month and a half after the Blaugrana club demanded that he extend his contract or leave.

He then had time to serve two millimeter assists for the last two goals, a header from Luuk de Jong and a recovery from Mamphis Depay, finally back after his long injury.

Three days after their brilliantly acquired qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa League in Naples (4-2), the Catalans once again offered the show to their supporters.

Frenkie de Jong, sparkling Thursday, signed yet another high-class entry into play, and Aubameyang chained a fifth goal in three matches.

Barça have won five of their last seven matches (with two draws), and have not lost in La Liga since December 4 at Betis Sevilla (1-0).

The derby for Sevilla FC

In Seville precisely, despite the sublime direct free kick of captain Sergio Canales in stoppage time (90th + 4), Betis let the Andalusian "Grand derby" escape.

The joy of Sevilla FC's Croatian midfielder, Ivan Rakitic (d), after opening the scoring from the penalty spot against Bétis, during the Andalusian derby of the 26th day of La Liga, on February 27, 2022 at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium CRISTINA QUICLER AFP

Julen Lopetegui's men took the lead in the 25th minute thanks to a penalty caused by Youssef En-Nesyri, hooked by Claudio Bravo, and transformed by Ivan Rakitic.

They then doubled the lead just before half-time (41st), with a long clearance from Bono extended into the Betis net by a cross shot from Munir El Haddadi, ten minutes after coming on in place of Papu Gomez , hit inside the left leg.

In this boiling "Grand derby" between the 2nd and 3rd of the championship at the Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium, Nabil Fekir was the only French representative, due to the suspension of Jules Koundé (red card last weekend against Espanyol) and Anthony Martial's injury.

A month after the throwing of a projectile which had stopped the Copa del Rey derby at the Benito-Villamarin stadium (2-1 for Betis), this setback which moreover has just put an unwelcome brake on Betis, which remained on an impeccable start to 2021 with nine wins, two draws and only one defeat in their last 12 matches.

Pino, proof by four

Earlier in the afternoon, Villarreal, who came out of a draw against Juventus on Tuesday in the round of 16 first leg of C1, crushed Espanyol Barcelona 5-1 thanks to a stratospheric Yeremi Pino.

The joy of Villareal striker Yeremi Pino (g), congratulated by his teammates, after his goal scored against Real Madrid, during the 38th day of La Liga, on May 22, 2021 at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium in Valdebebas JAVIER SORIANO AFP /Archives

The 19-year-old Spanish international became the first player in Villarreal history to score a La Liga hat-trick, and only the second in modern Spanish league history (after Santi Mina with Celta Vigo in 2015, the previous four date from before 1948).

Pino had already scored a hat-trick at the break (14th, 20th, 45th), and drove the point home after the break (53rd), before Keidi Bare reduced the gap and Boulaye Dia's final goal (86th) , to allow Villarreal to integrate the qualifying places for Europe (6th).

© 2022 AFP