Betis-Barça: A match to continue growing under the watchful eye of 'Tigrinho'

Published:6/12/2024 - 15:01h

Updated:6/12/2024 - 15:03h

FC Barcelona will visit the Benito Villamarín with the aim of getting back to winning three points to consolidate the good feelings they had in Mallorca. For their part, the Verdiblancos will seek to break a four-match winless streak in the league against the Catalans.

The key to La Liga is that it is a long-distance race. It is not about sprinting at a specific moment, but about being a consistent team. Barça got out of the slump of three games without a win against Mallorca, but now they must continue. It is time to keep winning and recover sensations, with the aim of regaining the form they had before November. So, this Saturday, at 4:15 p.m., against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín, Hansi Flick's men must try to add three points to show that the bad streak is over.

Likewise, their rival will not make it easy. The green-and-white team has gone four games without a win in La Liga and has not won its last Conference League match, against Mladá Bodeslav. However, they have eliminated Sant Andreu at home after beating them 1-3. So, with FC Barcelona visiting, the team managed by Manuel Pellegrini wants to make a statement.

Barça wants to confirm its return

The Blaugrana team had a memorable start to the season. They came close to breaking the club's record for the most consecutive league games won at the start of the season, something that the team managed in 2013/2014 by Gerardo 'Tata' Martino has. However, their good work was suddenly halted in November, a month in which they only took 4 of the 12 points at stake. With the arrival of December, a clean slate: 1-5 against Mallorca in Son Moix to win again.

The reality is that Benito Villamartín suits FC Barcelona very well. In fact, the Verdiblancos have not managed to get three points at home against the Blaugranas since the 2007/2008 season. That season, the last with Frank Rijkaard in charge, Barça took the lead with a goal from Bojan, backed up almost instantly by another from Eto'o. However, in the second half, Betis turned the game around with a double from Edú and a goal from Juanito.

Back in the present, Barça will seek to continue their good run at the Seville stadium and give continuity to the good feelings obtained against Mallorca. Araujo will not yet be called up for the cause, having already completed several training sessions with the group, but with whom there will be no rush. Neither will Andreas Christensen or Ansu Fati, although they have already started with the ball work.

Who will be there is Lamine Yamal, who had a great game against Mallorca. He caused a penalty and made a beautiful assist with the outside of the ball to Raphinha. Against Real Betis he is expected to be a starter, barring any surprises. Just as the team wants to confirm its return to winning ways, he will seek to repeat a great performance to leave no doubt that the injury break is now over. Dani Olmo is in a similar situation, having not played a single minute against Las Palmas due to discomfort in his pubis, but who played 72 at Son Moix.

Betis, on the charge with Isco back

For its part, Real Betis will play with the support of its fans, which is always positive. In its last match at home, it managed to save face with a draw against Celta, a match it was losing until 90+5, when Bartra scored the equaliser. Vitor Roque also scored the first goal for the Betis.

For this difficult match, in which the home team will seek to win after two draws and two defeats, Pellegrini will be without four players due to injury: Bellerín, Johnny Cardoso, Carvalho, Pablo Fornals and Marc Roca. However, the one who has been called up is Isco, who is now available "to play a few minutes", as the Chilean coach has said. The Malaga native is back in the squad after 7 months out due to a fractured fibula.

Thus, each one has his cards on the table, football will dictate the verdict. The duel, which will have the added morbidity of Vitor Roque's reunion with FC Barcelona, will be played with both teams needing to win. Thus, both teams will have to go out with their teeth between their teeth if they want to add the three points at stake.