Real Betis fell 1-2 at home against FC Barcelona, in a duel pending in the Spanish league, and could not take revenge for the defeat in the local Super Cup
Real Betis, a team led by Manuel Pellegrini and with Claudio Bravo on the bench, bowed this Wednesday at home 1-2 against the leader FC Barcelona, pending a crossing for the 17th date of the Spanish League 2022-2023.
Xavi Hernández’s team begins to be a wall. A team that has only conceded seven goals in the first round and that once again knew how to suffer. The investment in the rear – this year with Kounde and Christensen to build a solid line with Araujo – pays off in a Barça that, on dull days, has insurance behind.
The Barça team recovered Lewandowski after sanction, but it cost the Pole the return. Pedri, who came as a scorer, did not hit the mark and, without the recently injured Dembélé, Xavi’s team had a hard time creating danger. Betis, always upright, had their options but in the second half, the visitor’s step forward resulted in goals from Raphinha, on his quick free-kick, and Lewandowski.
The first act left the presentation of the game, as expected, with both teams looking for leadership, arguments to get ahead in one and the other, but with 0-0 at halftime. It was more difficult for Barça to get closer to the goal because they had to do it a lot in a positional position that Betis controlled well, without a flash or a great last pass.
Lewandowski was erratic in his connections and Xavi’s team lived above the second-line arrivals of a Pedri not so connected with the goal this time. The canary, architect of the three points against Getafe and Girona, stood up twice in front of Rui Silva but did not score. With the fight in the center of the field, the best goal options came with the error at the start.
The culé team committed two, with Canales, Guido and Ruibal intense in the robbery, but Borja Iglesias was not right either, nor a Canales who took a long time to finish off Ter Stegen. Betis thought less of it and Barça wanted to cook it more, but both showed the same lack of success. Raphinha managed to score for the Catalans, but it was clearly offside that the VAR confirmed, and the Betis went to the locker room pressing on.
A couple of sparks from the leader
The inertia, the one that has brought without losing a game since October 26 and the one that sowed in the first half, made Barça better in the second half, focused on the rival goal. Pedri improved with his shot but found a saving hand from Rui Silva and Raphinha went around the rival area a couple of times, claiming two penalties.
The referee was not happy with anyone and neither was it at 0-1, a foul that De Jong put into play quickly, so that Balde scored the goal pass to the Brazilian Rafinha. Pellegrini had just moved the bench, removing a Fekir who is recovering his rhythm after injury and putting Juanmi in as an offensive reinforcement. With the temperature rising, Borja Iglesias did not hit the mark in the small area and Barça had to press again in defense and, above all, in the withdrawal.
With 10 minutes to go, Lewandowski showed that he does retain the nose of the ‘Pichichi’ and caught a first shot from Araujo in a corner kick to increase the score. Barça forgave the third and once again ended up sweating the three points with Koundé’s own goal. Villamarín’s push and a couple of dangerous crosses put the suffered note on another victory as leader for Xavi’s men, while Pellegrini’s men let the Champions train escape.
In terms of the table, Betis was in sixth place with 31 points, in the Conference League zone.
Meanwhile, the group led by Xavi consolidated itself at the top of the table with 50 units, taking eight points ahead of second place, Real Madrid.
The goals of the match
Barcelona’s first goal by Rafinha
— Leo Messi (@Messi_10_30) February 1, 2023
Robert Lewandowski puts the 0-2 for Barça pic.twitter.com/zUqpg3CyuB
— FC Barcelona Mexico ???????? (@fcbarcelonaesmx) February 1, 2023
Kounde wanted to score a goal pic.twitter.com/ykdo9oMusj
— ruben (@rubennatm) February 1, 2023