Barcelona Aim to Rebound from Super Cup Loss Against Real Betis in La Liga Clash
Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
Location: Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain
Live Stream: ESPN+
Storylines:
Real Betis:
- After a four-match winless run, Betis returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Getafe in La Liga.
- The victory lifted Betis to fifth place in the standings, four points behind Real Sociedad in sixth and the final Europa League spot.
- Betis has been in good form at home this season, winning six of their last eight matches at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.
- Key players to watch for Betis include Nabil Fekir, Borja Iglesias, and Juanmi.
Barcelona:
- Barcelona suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Wednesday.
- The loss extended Barcelona’s winless run to three matches in all competitions.
- Barcelona is now eight points behind league leaders Girona and will be eager to get back to winning ways.
- Key players to watch for Barcelona include Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembélé, and Pedri.
Prediction:
This is a tough match to call, as both teams are in good form. However, Barcelona’s attacking quality should give them the edge.
Pick: Barcelona 2, Real Betis 1
Additional Information:
Odds (via ESPN+):
- Real Betis: +320
- Draw: +280
- Barcelona: -125
Injuries:
- Real Betis: None
- Barcelona: Raphinha (thigh), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (knee)
Suspensions:
- None
Head-to-Head Record:
- Barcelona has won 18 of the last 25 meetings between the two teams.
- Betis has won four of the last 25 meetings between the two teams.
- The two teams drew three of the last 25 meetings between the two teams.
Recent Form:
- Real Betis: WWWLWL
- Barcelona: LLDWL
Additional Notes:
- This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season.
- Barcelona has won the last three meetings between the two teams.
- Betis has not beaten Barcelona at home since 2018.
Full Article:
After a morale-boosting Copa del Rey victory in midweek, Barcelona will look to put their Spanish Super Cup disappointment behind them when they travel to face Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday.
Xavi’s team has endured a challenging week, suffering a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Super Cup final, but they will be determined to bounce back and keep their title hopes alive.
Currently eight points behind leaders Girona, Barcelona cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to challenge for the championship.
Real Betis, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their recent resurgence, having ended a four-match winless run with a 2-0 victory over Getafe last weekend.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side currently occupies fifth place in the standings, four points behind Real Sociedad in sixth and the final Europa League spot.
Betis has been in impressive form at home this season, winning six of their last eight matches at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.
Key to their success has been the form of Nabil Fekir, Borja Iglesias, and Juanmi, who have combined for 27 goals in La Liga this season.
Barcelona, on the other hand, has struggled for consistency on the road, winning just three of their last eight away matches in the league.
Xavi’s team has also been hampered by injuries to key players, with Raphinha and Marc-Andre ter Stegen both ruled out of the Betis clash.
However, the return of Joao Cancelo from a knee injury could provide a boost to Barcelona’s attack.
The Portuguese full-back has been in excellent form for Manchester City this season and will be hoping to make an immediate impact at Barcelona.
Ultimately, this is a difficult match to predict, as both teams have the quality to win the game.
However, Barcelona’s attacking firepower should give them the edge, and they will be confident of securing a vital victory in their quest to reclaim the La Liga title.
Don’t miss this exciting clash between two of La Liga’s top teams! Tune in to ESPN+ on Sunday, January 21, at 12:30 p.m. ET to catch all the action.