After a successful week, Barcelona is set to host Real Betis this Saturday. The Blaugrana recently defeated Girona in La Liga and advanced to the Copa del Rey final by overcoming Atletico de Madrid. They are now preparing to face Real Madrid in the final on April 26th in Seville.
Barcelona currently leads La Liga with a three-point advantage over Real Madrid. Atletico Madrid is further behind, almost out of contention for the title with only nine games remaining this season.
Barcelona`s coach is expected to rotate the squad with the upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in mind.
Real Betis is currently sixth in the league, six points away from the Champions League qualification spots. They are also in good form, having won their last six La Liga matches, matching Barcelona`s recent league form.
Barcelona will miss several players due to injury, including Dani Olmo, Marc Casado, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. However, Lamine Yamal is likely to be in the starting lineup.
Match Details
- Date: Saturday, April 5
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain
- Live stream: ESPN+
- Odds: FC Barcelona -280; Draw +425; Real Betis +650
Previous Encounter
The last match between Barcelona and Real Betis was on January 15 in the Copa del Rey, where Barcelona won 5-1. In their La Liga match in Seville earlier in the season, the game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Real Betis scoring a late equalizer.
Barcelona Manager`s Comments
Ahead of the game, Barcelona`s coach mentioned in a press conference that they expect a difficult match and need to perform at their best. He praised the Real Betis coach`s experience and ability to improve players, citing Antony`s improved performance as an example. He also expressed confidence in his team`s belief and determination to compete for all objectives.
Projected Starting Lineups
FC Barcelona: Wojciech Szczesny; Jules Kounde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Alejandro Balde; Pedri, Frankie De Jong; Lamine Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Robert Lewandowski.
Real Betis: Adrian; Youssouf Sabaly, Marc Bartra, Diego Llorente, Ricardo Rodriguez; Johnny Cardoso, Pablo Fornals; Antony, Giovani Lo Celso, Jesus Rodriguez; Cucho Hernandez.
Player Spotlight
Antony, Real Betis: The on-loan winger, formerly of Manchester United, has found renewed form at Real Betis under Manuel Pellegrini. He has contributed with goals and assists in recent La Liga games, highlighting his potential and raising questions about Manchester United`s environment for players. This match against Barcelona is a significant opportunity for him to showcase his abilities.
Key Storyline
Szczesny`s Future: Barcelona are reportedly considering extending goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny`s contract beyond the current season. Despite initial retirement plans after leaving Juventus, Szczesny has impressed since joining Barcelona as a replacement for the injured Marc ter Stegen, leading to discussions about a new deal.
Match Prediction
Considering Real Betis`s current form, Barcelona might face a challenging game. However, a narrow victory for the home side is anticipated.
Prediction: FC Barcelona 2, Real Betis 1.
