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Barcelona v Real Betis match preview
The two teams in the best form over the last 11 LaLiga matches meet on Saturday when Barcelona’s nine-match winning league run is tested by Real Betis at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys (20:00 BST).
Both sides have won their last six league matches and accumulated five more points than the next best-performing team, Real Madrid, while Barca have netted 18 goals and conceded three along the way compared to Betis’s aggregate score of 13-5.
Three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table, Barca only needed one goal to set up a Clasico Copa Del Rey final on Wednesday, when Ferran Torres’ first-half finish at Atletico Madrid took them past the third-placed team 5-4 on aggregate.
“I don’t want to talk about the final,” manager Hansi Flick said afterwards. “I’m focused on Betis. It’s fantastic to play in El Clasico. Now it is not very important.
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“We are allowed to dream, but we have to be focused and focused on what we want. The next few weeks won’t be easy, but we have a fantastic team. The club and the fans can be proud.”
Betis will be buoyed by winning the Seville derby for the first time in seven years last Sunday, coming from behind to prevail at home through goals by Johnny Cardoso and Cucho Hernandez.
“It is a party that is rarely experienced in football,” manager Manuel Pellegrini said of the emotional result. “We were fortunate to experience it with our fans.”
With a top-four position likely to be required to qualify for the Champions League, the game starts a potentially pivotal period for Los Verdiblancos, who host Polish opponents Jagiellonia in the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final on Thursday (20:00) and Villarreal three days later (17:30).
They have nine league games remaining and are currently level on points with the fifth-placed Yellow Submarine, as well as six behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona v Betis team news
Centre-backs Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez and forward Raphinha may not start for Barcelona after appearing to limp during the draining win over Atleti.
Midfielder Gavi did not feature in the semi-final because of “discomfort” in his right knee but is now “fine”, according to Flick, although Fermin Lopez is likely to continue to deputise for the 20-year-old.
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“We have to manage this whole issue with so many games ahead,” Flick replied when he was asked whether he will need to rotate.
“It’s normal. I spoke with the experts and together we decided what to do and how many minutes [players] can play each game. We need to have fresh legs on the pitch.”
Right-back Angel Ortiz and midfielder Marc Roca are out injured for the visitors, but playmaker Isco’s suspension for accumulated yellow cards poses the most pressing issue for Pellegrini.
Having returned from a broken leg in December, Isco has contributed six goals and four assists in his last 12 league appearances.
Barca v Real Betis expected line-ups
Barcelona starting XI: Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Betis starting XI: Adrian; Sabaly, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente, Rodriguez; Johnny, Pablo Fornals; Antony, Lo Celso, Jesus Rodriguez; Cucho
How to watch Barca v Betis: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Saturday is at 20:00, with live coverage on LaLigaTV and Premier Player.
Various subscription packages are available. Via streaming and apps, Premier Player costs £15.99 a month, £10.99 a month annually, £120 a year upfront or £7.99 a month for LaLigaTV only.
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Barcelona v Betis stats
- Barcelona have won the last 4 matches in a row while scoring more than 2.5 goals
- Barcelona have won the last 4 matches in a row in the LaLiga while scoring more than 2.5 goals
- Barcelona have won the last 5 matches in a row in the LaLiga while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- Barcelona have won the last 4 matches in a row and the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Barcelona have won the last 4 matches in a row while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- In 10 of the last 12 Real Betis matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 7 of the last 8 Real Betis matches in the LaLiga, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Real Betis have won 5 of the last 6 matches in the LaLiga and the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Real Betis have won 5 of the last 6 matches in the LaLiga while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- Real Betis have won 4 of the last 5 matches in the LaLiga while scoring less than 2.5 goals
Barcelona v Real Betis prediction
With the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at home to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday (20:00), Barcelona could hardly have a tougher prelude than an encounter with the most dangerous possible current opponents in LaLiga.
Much will depend on how Betis cope without Isco, but a repeat of their 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture on December 7 would not be a surprise despite Barca’s formidable run.
Betis had twice as many attempts on target as Barca on that occasion but had to twice come from behind, doing so for the second time in the 94th minute through 19-year-old Assane Diao.
“We should not go in with a complex, but we have to try to play like we did against them when we drew 2-2 and had countless opportunities to win,” said Pellegrini.
The Chilean added that he has taken encouragement from Atleti’s tally of eight goals across their first three meetings with Barca this season.
