Real Betis Vs Barcelona
Real Betis Vs BarcelonaSaturday 7 May, 2022 – 20:00 (BST)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Barcelona to WIN
Odds: 21/20
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 4 May 2022)
Preview: Xavi sampled his first taste of defeat as Barcelona manager in a league setting the last time these teams faced off, as Real Betis pulled off a famous victory at Camp Nou in December. Five months on, will the Blaugrana be celebrating a revenge win that would see them confirmed as Champions League participants for 2022-22?
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Table of Contents
Real Betis – Top-four claims hanging in the balance?
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid – the three biggest teams in Spanish football – are the only sides with more goals scored in La Liga in 2021-22 than Real Betis, who, after 34 games, have already plundered 56. None have come in their three previous outings, though, sandwiching goalless draws away to Getafe and Real Sociedad with their sixth loss of the campaign at Benito Villamarin against Elche.
Lifting the Copa Del Rey amidst this barren spell means it hasn’t been all doom and gloom. But they prevailed on penalties, after a 1-1 draw with Valencia, meaning a once free-scoring attack has one goal in 420+ minutes of competitive action and won only twice in eight league and cup matches (D5 L1). Hardly inspiring form for a side in need of wins to bridge a two-point gap to the Champions League places.
Key Stat: There hasn’t been a drawn encounter involving Real Betis at their Benito Villamarin stadium since September, Los Verdiblancos winning nine and losing five of 14 subsequent La Liga home games since a 2-2 draw with Espanyol.
Barcelona – Xavi keen to wrap up UCL football early?
Real Madrid thrashing Barcelona’s near neighbours Espanyol rendered it mathematically impossible for any team to catch them, romping to their 35th league title. That leaves a clutch of sides aiming to finish as the best of the rest. Leading the way in this ignominious of race are Barca, who can ensure the worst case scenario of no Champions League football next season is averted as early as this weekend.
Victory over Real Betis would mean the lowest they can come home is fourth. It isn’t a trophy, but it is still an outstanding achievement bearing in mind where this team were in the table before Xavi’s instalment as manager. Since his arrival in mid-November, La Blaugrana have collected 49 out of a possible 66 points (W15 D4 L3). They are yet to be beaten on the road meanwhile, winning each of the last five.
Key Stat: With Xavi as manager, Barcelona are unbeaten through 12 La Liga away games, winning eight. There were Over 2.5 Goals in five of those victories, including in wins at Valencia (10th in the table), Villarreal (7th) and Real Madrid (1st).
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Real Betis Vs Barcelona Betting Advice
In December, courtesy of a 1-0 scoreline at Camp Nou, Real Betis inflicted the first La Liga loss upon Xavi as Barcelona manager. At that stage the men hailing from Seville were considered the more likely of the two teams to claim a top-four finish. It hasn’t panned out that way, though, and on Saturday Barca can confirm their participation in next season’s Champions League with victory at Benito Villamarin.
Real Betis Vs Barcelona – Key Facts:
- Barcelona are seeking a fifth consecutive La Liga away win against Real Betis. The latter have failed to win any of ten subsequent league meetings (D3 L7) as hosts since a 3-2 success in March 2008.
- The last four La Liga meetings in Seville all produced Over 3.5 Goals. Neither side are in scoring form however: Real Betis without a goal for three league games, Barcelona scoring one or fewer in four of the last six.
- Since Xavi was appointed head coach in November, Barcelona have gone unbeaten in all 12 of their La Liga away games (W8 D4), winning the last five in a row.
Each of the past four La Liga campaigns has featured a Barcelona victory away at Real Betis, the last two via 3-2 scoreline while all four contained four or more goals. It would be a pleasant, if unlikely, surprise were we to see a repeat of those meetings though. Real Betis are without a goal in three league games while Barcelona scored just three across their last four, netting Under 1.5 team goals in four of the last six.
Best Betting Odds – Real Betis Vs Barcelona
Real Betis – 9/4 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 11/4 (Betway)
Barcelona – 21/20 (WilliamHill)
