Real Betis vs. Barcelona: A Clash of European Contenders
Match Details
- Date: Sunday, January 21, 2024
- Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain
- Live Stream: ESPN+
Odds
- Real Betis: +320
- Draw: +280
- Barcelona: -125
Storylines
Real Betis
- After a four-match winless run, Betis returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Elche in their last La Liga outing.
- The victory moved Betis up to fifth place in the table, four points behind Real Sociedad in the final Europa League spot.
- Betis will be boosted by the return of Isco, who has been in excellent form since joining the club from Sevilla in the summer.
- The Spanish midfielder has scored four goals and provided three assists in his last seven appearances for Betis.
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 are now eight points behind Girona at the top of La Liga, and they cannot afford to drop any more points if they want to challenge for the title.
- The Catalan giants will be without Raphinha and Marc-Andre ter Stegen for the trip to Seville.
Prediction
This is a tough match to call, as both teams are in good form. However, Barcelona’s recent away record is poor, and they have struggled to create chances without Raphinha and ter Stegen.
Betis, on the other hand, are in confident mood after their win over Elche, and they will be looking to make the most of Barcelona’s current difficulties.
I believe that Betis will be too strong for Barcelona on this occasion, and I predict a 2-1 home win.
How to Watch Real Betis vs. Barcelona
The match will be broadcast live on ESPN+ in the United States.
Kick-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. ET.
Predicted Lineups
Real Betis
Silva; Sabaly, Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Moreno; Rodriguez, Guardado, Fekir; Canales, Iglesias, Isco
Barcelona
Pena; Roberto, Araujo, Garcia, Alba; Kessie, Busquets, De Jong; Fati, Lewandowski, Gavi
Key Players
Real Betis
- Nabil Fekir: The French midfielder is Betis’s most creative player, and he will be looking to provide chances for Borja Iglesias and Juanmi.
- Borja Iglesias: The Spanish striker is Betis’s leading goalscorer this season, and he will be looking to add to his tally against Barcelona.
- Isco: The former Real Madrid midfielder has been in excellent form since joining Betis in the summer, and he will be looking to make a big impact against his former club.
Barcelona
- Robert Lewandowski: The Polish striker is Barcelona’s talisman, and he will be looking to score his first goal against Betis.
- Ansu Fati: The young winger is one of Barcelona’s most exciting talents, and he will be looking to make a statement against Betis.
- Pedri: The Spanish midfielder is Barcelona’s heartbeat, and he will be looking to control the tempo of the game against Betis.
Conclusion
The match between Real Betis and Barcelona promises to be an exciting and entertaining affair. Both teams have a lot to play for, and they will be determined to come away with the three points.
Who do you think will win? Let us know in the comments below!
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