Barcelona moved four points clear of rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga despite being held to a draw at home by Real Betis. Hansi Flick’s side will be disappointed, though, that their dominant performance did not result in victory as their seven-match winning run in all competitions was ended by the disciplined visitors.
Early Goal and Response
Some brilliant one-touch football sent midfielder Gavi through in the seventh minute, and the 20-year-old opened the scoring for the hosts with a composed finish from a tight angle. But Betis were level 10 minutes later as defender Natan headed home Giovani lo Celso’s corner.
Second-Half Opportunities
Full-back Jules Kounde had Barca’s best chance to retake the lead when his strike from close range on his weaker foot was saved by the body of Betis goalkeeper Adrian midway through the second half. A draw also ended the visitors’ own four-match winning run as in-form forwards Cucho Hernandez and Manchester United loanee Antony failed to fire.
Post-Match Analysis
The draw means Barcelona will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming Champions League quarter-final match against Borussia Dortmund. Meanwhile, Real Betis will be hoping to build on their impressive performance and continue their good form in the league.
La Liga Standings
The draw keeps Barcelona four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. With the season entering its final stretch, every point counts, and Barcelona will be eager to make a statement in their remaining matches.
Related News
In other La Liga news, Real Madrid were sunk by a 95th-minute Valencia winner as they lost to Los Ches for the first time since 2008. The result means Real Madrid will be looking to regroup and refocus on their remaining matches.
Final Score
Barcelona 1 – 1 Real Betis
Player Ratings
The player ratings from the match are as follows:
- Gavi: 6.56
- Natan: 8.30
- Jules Kounde: 5.73
- Adrian: 8.24
What’s Next?
Barcelona’s next match is against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. The match will be a crucial test for the team, and they will be looking to come out on top.