FC Barcelona have a great chance of going eight points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table if they pick up three points more in their away game against Betis.
Manuel Pellegrini’s team edged out Getafe 1-0 on Sunday same as Barcelona who overcame a tricky fixture against Girona by a solitary goal a day before.
BET vs FCB Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 1 Feb 2023 / Thursday, 2 Feb 2023
Time: 21:00 (BST) / 01:30 (IST)
Venue: Benito Villamarin, Seville
BET vs FCB Match Preview
Real Betis quickly got back to winning ways at the weekend against Getafe after a surprise 1-0 loss away at Espanyol in the league put an end to their five-game unbeaten run in all competitions. Talismanic striker Borja Iglesias converted from the spot in the 86th minute for the victory when all hopes seemed to have lost. As a case, Manuel Pellegrini’s men maintained a three points difference with the top four. That is despite Betis winning only three of the last nine La Liga matches. Another victory will help them climb to the Champions League places at least momentarily displacing Atletico Madrid in the fourth spot but doing against the league leaders Barcelona will be quite a test. The side has lost only once in eight games played at Benito Villamarin, drawing twice and winning five of them. However, Betis are winless in their last three league games at home scoring only twice. It is bad news for manager Pellegrini as Barcelona have won each of their last four games in the league conceding only once. The 3-1 El Classico loss to Real Madrid in October last year remains their only defeat on the road and for the season. Betis did play an outstanding contest against the Catalan giants in the semi-final of the Super Cup coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at the end of extra time. They lost on penalties to the eventual winners but proved their worth in the evening.
It was a narrow away win for Barcelona again as Pedri scored the solitary goal against Girona and for the consecutive game to help his side bloom in the victory run over five matches in all competitions. The 20-year-old has now got three strikes in his last four matches. Marc-Andre ter Stegen was called into action again while the home side also made some howling misses to help the Blaugranas keep their 16th clean sheet in 18 La Liga games so far. Extraordinarily, they have let in only six goals, three in that El Classico loss, at this stage of the season proving to be the best defense in the division. This has turned out to be a key factor in their revival this season. Putting together a 13-game unbeaten run since that defeat to their arch-rivals, Xavi’s men have a chance to extend their points lead at the top to eight with Real Madrid after they drop crucial points at home against Real Sociedad on Sunday night. It will be a giant leap for the club desperate to take supremacy in Spain again. Winning the league title will grant a lot of financial help too. Before that, Barcelona have to make sure they maintain their unbeaten streak of the last 10 meetings, eight wins including in the last five, away at Betis and try to make a more comfortable trip this time than their high-voltage late dramas in the last three visits.
Recent Form (all competitions)
BET: WLDDW
FCB: WWWWW
Recent Form (league)
BET: WLWDL
FCB: WWWDW
BET vs FCB Team News
Real Betis received a double injury boost at the weekend with Nabil Fekir and Juanmi returning after suffering muscle injuries and they will be in contention to start on Wednesday. New signing Abner will be giving competition to Juan Miranda for a start at left-back while Juan Cruz remains the only absentee from the squad with a hamstring injury.
Barcelona had a big injury blow after their win at Girona with star winger Ousmane Dembele substituted at the hour mark. It is revealed that the Frenchman has suffered a muscle injury and will be sidelined for up to three weeks. He will be making a race against time to get fit for the
Europa League clash against Manchester United later next month. However, Robert Lewandowski will be back in the forward line completing his suspension with Ferran Torres who was sent off against Atletico Madrid.
BET vs FCB Predicted Lineups
BET: Rui Silva; Aitor Ruibal, German Pezzella, Luiz Felipe, Juan Miranda; Guido Rodriguez, William Carvalho; Luiz Henrique, Nabil Fekir, Sergio Canales; Borja Iglesias
FCB: Ter Stegen; Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jordi Alba; De Jong, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Gavi
BET vs FCB Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ter Stegen (8.5)
DEF: Kounde (8.5), Araujo (8), Pezzella (7), Alba (8)
MID: Canales (8), Pedri (9), Fekir (8.5), Gavi (8.5)
FW: Lewandowski (9), Iglesias (8.5)
Vice-captain: Pedri
Captain: Robert Lewandowski
Stay tuned to Fantasy Football for upcoming matches.
