La Liga: Betis and Barca Are the Best of the Rest

Real Betis vs Barcelona

All eyes will be on the Benito Villamarin Stadium in Andalusia on Saturday night when Real Betis welcome Barcelona in a top-five clash which has plenty at stake.  

With the 2022 title already in Madrid, this La Liga clash is the biggest game of the weekend as Betis try to gatecrash the Champions League places and the Blaugrana aim to end the season on a high.

Xavi’s Barcelona are pushing for second place and that is quite a turnaround after a poor opening half of the campaign, but they have stuttered recently.

Meanwhile, Real Betis still have faint hopes of making a top-four place. They are currently in fifth, three points behind Atletico Madrid and with four games to go, there is no time to lose.

Barca come into the game on the back of a 2-1 home win against Mallorca while Betis played out a goalless draw away to Getafe.   

Talking Points

Betis’ attack needs sharpening

Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis have been free-scoring for most of the campaign and, with 56 goals, they are the fourth-highest scorers in La Liga, with six more than third-placed Sevilla. But Los Verdiblancos are without a goal in their last three league outings, drawing 0-0 away to Getafe and Real Sociedad while losing their last home game 1-0 to Elche.

They have the firepower for sure, but the Betis strikers have been blunted and now they need to sharpen up for a fast finish. 28-year-old attacking midfielder Juanmi has had a fine season with 14 goals, while man striker Borja Iglesias has weighed in with nine. He scored Los Verdiblancos’ goal in their Copa del Rey final with Valencia which they won on penalties. 

One player we’re sure to see in the La Liga 2022 highlights package is the quick-footed and spiky winger Nabil Fekir. The former Liverpool target has contributed six goals and six assists and he is keen to stake his claim for a place in the France team for the 2022 World Cup, while attacking midfielder Sergio Canales remains a class act.

This team will start scoring again soon.  

Barca back on track

Since Xavi’s arrival and a superb January transfer window, Barcelona’s season has been transformed and, at one point, the Catalans were even dreaming of a spectacular La Liga triumph.

But a series of poor results, particularly at the Camp Nou, has rather derailed their campaign. A shock Europa League exit at home to Eintracht Frankfurt was followed by a bigger surprise when Cadiz won at the Camp Nou and then another home defeat to Rayo Vallecano.

But, last time out, the Blaugrana got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Real Mallorca as striker Memphis Depay scored his 11^th goal of the campaign and Sergio Busquets made it 2-0 before Mallorca scored a late consolation.     

Depay has had a productive partner in attack since the arrival of Pierre Emerick-Aubamayang from Arsenal in the January transfer window. The Gabon international has nine goals and, along with newly signed Ferran Torres, he has galvanised the team into one which can challenge Real Madrid again.

Supporting striker Ousmane Dembele has been in scintillating form too, with ten assists. Manchester United are said to be interested in signing the out of contract star, but Barca are hopeful of striking a new deal to keep the 24-year-old France international at the Camp Nou.   

Full-back Jordi Alba has been a prolific assister with nine so far this season, but in defence the Blaugrana are still without the injured duo of Sergi Roberto and Sergino Dest.  

While they have struggled at home Barcelona have been better away from the Camp Nou in recent weeks and they will be out to bag all three points in Seville.

History

Barcelona have had the better of the head to head meetings, winning 32 of the 51 encounters while Real Betis have won ten and there have been nine draws.     

Betis won the return match 1-0 this season while Barcelona won 3-2 at the Benito Villamarin in the 2020/21 campaign. 

Betting Tip  

The La Liga 2022 betting odds say all three results are in play with Real Betis at 3.01 to win or 3.26 to draw and the Blaugrana at 2.18 to bag an away victory which would keep them in second place.  

Barca have been good on the road with eight wins, seven draws and two defeats away from home and are unbeaten in their last ten away games in all competitions.

But Betis are a formidable opponent and a 1-1 draw is at SBOTOP odds of 5.99 may not be far from the mark.

 

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