A lively opening from both sides was peppered with multiple losses of possession, before a collective loss of concentration from Barca’s backline left an offside-looking Antony all alone right in front of goal, and he smashed home the opener within five minutes.
Not long after though, Barcelona began to take control, and a superb move ended with Ferran Torres’ fine low finish.
And in the very next attack of a period totally dominated by Barcelona, the same player acrobatically volleyed home Roony Bardghji’s cross to complete the turnaround.
Despite the bleak situation for Betis, Ez Abde and Antony were always willing outlets for the long ball upfield. But it rarely arrived, and the hosts were then made to pay yet again when Bardghji escaped the attentions of two covering defenders and beat Alvaro Valles at the near post, executing a right-foot drive for his first LaLiga goal.
Ferran’s speculative shot just before the break – only his 12th touch of the half – was then deflected past Valles by his own defender, Marc Bartra, to send the visitors even further ahead.
Surely without hope at 4-1 down, Betis were almost undone again at the start of the second half, but Marcus Rashford flashed his shot wide.
With Lamine Yamal really in the mood too, the hosts were stuck on the back foot, and the Spaniard should really have done better with only Valles to beat.
A hugely contentious penalty was then given to the visitors after a VAR review, with the ball clearly hitting Bartra’s body before bouncing up and striking his arm. Lamine took responsibility from the spot and calmly sent Valles the wrong way, passing the ball into the net.
Somehow, Barca passed up a three-on-one opportunity, as they remained fully in control of the game, whilst Abde’s inability to finish a half-chance summed up his and Betis’ afternoon.
Antony extended Barca keeper Joan Garcia, and would later see another goal chalked off, with Ferran inches away from his fourth goal shortly after.
Diego Llorente’s tap-in from a corner at least gave the home fans something to cheer late on, and a penalty from Cucho Hernandez made the scoreline more respectable.
However, the game was long won and lost, with the three points cementing Barcelona’s place at the top of LaLiga, while keeping the Catalans unbeaten in away league games against Betis since March 2008 (W11, D4).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ferran Torres (Barcelona)