Real Betis vs Barcelona

WELCOME TO THE BENITO VILLAMARÍN!!! The beautiful home of Real Betis in the city of Seville is the site of a massive La Liga clash between the hosts and ...

This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another. Starting XI: TBA This should be all kinds of fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action.

As for losverdiblancos, things haven't been going so well. They beat Getafe at the weekend in possibly the most boring game of the season but before that ...

One of the greatest atmospheres in Spain (and Europe) without a doubt. [0-1 win over Girona](https://en.as.com/soccer/girona-vs-barcelona-live-online-scores-stats-and-updates-laliga-202223-n/) and scored the only goal of the game. The ball was ludicrously deflected from a Betis player to Pedri who was behind the defensive line, all on his own. Barcelona start brightly, and Baldé is played down the left from a De Jong pass. A look of sheer incredulity on the striker's face needs to become a meme, ASAP. As is Gavi and all the rest. Pedri catches the ball out of the sky on his foot as though it were a kitten falling out of a window. Borja Iglesias is fouled by Christensen (again) yet the referee fails to blow up for the challenge. Canales does brilliantly to work the ball forward and ride the challenges from Koundé. Betis defend well and clear the ball. He takes a touch, gets the ball out from under his feet and passes it past Rui Silva from close range. Raphinha was excellent today, he was direct, decisive, strong in the press and always looked to make things happen.

Xavi picks four midfielders in his Barcelona starting XI The Barcelona starting line-up is out now too and Xavi has overcome the absence of Ousmane De.

Luiz Henrique (Real Betis) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Sergio Canales (Real Betis) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Gavi (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Ronald Araújo (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona) right footed shot from the centre of the box following a corner. Raphinha (Barcelona) right footed shot from very close range following a set piece situation. Assisted by Pedri with a cross following a corner. Real Betis 0, Barcelona 1. Real Betis 0, Barcelona 2. That gives Barcelona breathing room, just after Real Betis made their last throw of the dice by making the triple substitution.

Robert Lewandowski is back for Barcelona as the La Liga leaders visit Real Betis in a midweek La Liga showdown in the spotlight as the only Spanish top ...

The Real Betis fans are in FULL voice, and are extremely audible over the television broadcast. 10th min: Real Betis's first venture into the attacking third takes 10 minutes to arrive, but it's a dangerous one, as Luiz Henrique floats a cross along the face of goal that has to be booted safely out for a corner by the Barcelona defense. 12th min: Aitor Ruibal wins the ball off Sergio Busquets in midfield and springs Borja Iglesias on the break, but he's closed down by three Barcelona defenders at the last possible moment and can't get a shot off. He's threaded through wonderfully by Raphinha who sneaks it right through the legs of William Carvalho, but Pedri opts to try and round the Real Betis goalkeeper, and he's got it taken off him by a decisive goalkeeping move! The ball somehow bobbles right to Pedri off a weird bounce from a 50/50 duel, but his chance is stopped expertly by the Real Betis goalkeeper! The Barcelona midfielder collects in acres of space with his back to goal, and rifles one on frame, but Silva is there to dive down to his left to make the stop with one hand. Real Betis packed it in and tried to play on the break, which earned them one or two decent chances but otherwise ground the game to a halt. Replay shows it was a fantastic slide, as his outstretched toe poked the ball away from the Betis man who ended up in a heap. All the hard work was done by Alex Balde down the left of the penalty area, and he cut a cross along the face of goal for Raphinha at the far post making the run. Luiz Felipe then picks up a yellow card for kicking Pedri in the back of the legs. The Polish striker's 23rd of the season across all competitions, and 14th in the league, as he gives Barcelona all three points. Raphinha, who had struggled to keep the ball all match, cropped up for the opening goal, meeting Alex Balde's cross to put Barcelona in front on 65 minutes.

Barcelona will have the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of La Liga to eight points when they take on Real Betis on Wednesday.

Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage. Both teams come into the match on the back of narrow 1-0 victories in their previous fixtures, with Barcelona defeating Girona and Betis triumphing over Getafe. Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Manager Xavi Hernandez was happy with the win for his LaLiga leaders, whose points tally midway through the season has them on track to potentially beat the ...

I don't want to get in to if they deserved it." "It's hard to get the ball of them. We improved a lot from [Saturday's win] at "I think we played really well," Xavi said after the match. I am really happy with the performance as much as the result. "I would say we were excellent in many phases of the game.