Barcelona vs Real Betis
Spanish champions Barcelona head back to the Camp Nou this weekend to take on Real Betis in the Catalans’ first home game of the season.
This Sunday night clash will round up the weekend’s La Liga fixtures and by the time it kicks off, Barca will almost certainly be six points from the summit having lost their opener in Bilbao. They will expect to bounce back but will face a talented outfit with an incentive of their own.
Los Verdiblancos lost their opening game of the season, in controversial circumstances, and having finished in sixth place last season, they will be keen to avoid back-to-back defeats, or at the very least give their illustrious hosts a difficult night.
Of course, the big La Liga 2019 news of the first weekend was Barca’s defeat, but one result isn’t going to alter our SBOBET tips and I predict a Barcelona win. The big question, however, is by how much?
Talking Points
Barca’s Injury headache
It might seem strange to hear, particularly for fans of clubs with modest riches and talent compared to the champions, but Ernesto Valverde has a bit of a selection crisis as some of his big names have spent the last week on the treatment table. Leo Messi was already sidelined and Luis Suarez went off injured on the opening day upset away to Athletic Bilbao, and that means the only fully fit forward is new signing Antoine Griezmann.
With Philippe Coutinho off to FC Bayern, Barca’s creative muscle is looking a little stretched. Valverde might be considering one of Carles Perez or Rafinha, but he is more likely to go for experience and wheel out his biggest gun of all, providing Messi is pronounced fit.
If he is 100 per cent, then I think Barca will overcome their first-week disappointment in some style, particularly if Griezmann can offer more than he did in Bilbao. The star players need to put on a good show for their fans and wipe away any doubts that they can dominate again.
Frenkie de Jong made his debut in Bilbao and he is likely to make up a midfield quartet along with Sergi Roberto, Arthur and Sergio Busquets, or Ivan Rakitic might make an appearance. Whoever lines up across the middle of the park will be hard for the visitors to match.
Betis blew their opening chance
Los Verdiblancos also made a losing start at home to Real Valladolid. It was a game they expected to win but the early dismissal of goalkeeper Joel made it too difficult against a side which spent last season fighting an ultimately successful survival campaign.
50,000 passionate fans had flocked into the Benito Villamarin, and despite playing almost 90 minutes with ten men Betis shared possession and had more shots on target. But it was a wasted opportunity and so they’ll be keen to make up for it as soon as possible.
The loss of midfield ace Giovani Lo Celso to Spurs has left a creative void which Betis fans will hope can be filled by new signing Nabil Fekir, who is likely to play in the number 10 role just behind lone striker Borja Iglesias Quintas. And William Carvalho is a key man in a Betis midfield which will have its work cut out at the Camp Nou.
Head coach Rubi has just signed a three-year contract to stay at the Benito Villamarin and his ambition is to match or even better Los Verdiblancos’ sixth-place finish in 2018/19. But it looks like he may have to overcome a tricky start.
History
In this corresponding fixture last season, Real Betis won 3-4 with two goals from Sergio Canales, while skipper Joaquin was also on target. But we’ll look a little further back to inform our Barcelona vs Real Betis predictions.
And the previous head to heads makes good reading for Valverde’s men. Barca have won 18 of the last 22 meetings and they have scored three or more goals in 15 of the last 18 battles at the Camp Nou.
Barca’s home is a fortress where they have gone 21 games unbeaten, winning 11 in a row.
Betting Tip
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Barcelona vs Real Betis | Barcelona Asian Handicap -1.75 @ 1.97 |
| August 26, 03:00 (GMT_8) |
Barca is a hot favourite to win this game at odds of 1.27 while the draw is at 5.40 and Betis is 10.50.
The visitors are available at 1.96 with a +1.75 start but I am going with the hosts. And I expect them to come out all guns blazing, to match their high scoring history against Los Verdiblancos.
Over 3.25 goals is at 1.83 and 4-6 goals at 2.35, while both 3-0 and 3-1 are available at odds of 9.00.
If I have to choose, I’ll go for 3-0.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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