Barcelona are improving under Ronald Koeman. They are on a five-match winning streak in La Liga heading into the weekend. They will visit Real Betis in Seville with the hope of inching closer to first-placed Atletico Madrid.
Ten points separate Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. With the way that Diego Simeone’s team have played, it will be very difficult for Barcelona to close that gap.
Real Betis are also on a good run of form ahead of the weekend. They are unbeaten in five games and just two points off of Real Sociedad and the top six.
Barcelona thrashed Real Betis earlier this season 5-2 at Camp Nou. Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring in the first half but the goal was cancelled out by Antonio Sanarbia.
💪 Back to Barcelona, back to work👀 #BetisBarça on Sunday pic.twitter.com/s42wdjjsaQ— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 5, 2021
💪 Back to Barcelona, back to work👀 #BetisBarça on Sunday pic.twitter.com/s42wdjjsaQ
Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi (twice) then tallied goals before a strike from Lorenzo Moron. Barcelona’s Pedri then killed off the game in the 90th minute with a penalty.
Barcelona took 16 points from their last 18 on offer in La Liga. They scored 13 goals while conceding four times. Their form improvement is coinciding with the return of the Champions League later this month.
Real Betis took 11 points from 18 possible. They outscored opponents 11-8 during that six-game timeframe.
Los Verdiblancos manager Manuel Pellegrini has four players on his injury list. Midfielder Diego Lainz is out due to a positive COVID-19 test. Claudio Bravo, Dani Martin, and Marc Bartra are all in line to make a return to the team this weekend.
Koeman has four names on his injury list. Three of those names are long-term absentees. Philippe Coutinho, Ansu Fati, and Gerard Pique are all three hurt and out of action. Fati and Coutinho could return soon as they are both recovering nicely.
Barcelona are on a great run of form that should continue away from home versus Real Betis. Although Los Verdiblancos have been good in recent weeks, the Blaugrana are a step above. The club are also coming off of a midweek Copa del Rey win over Granada, 5-3.
Real Betis, on the other hand, lost to Athletic Bilbao in the cup on penalties after their match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes. The fatigue and failure should create a hangover that lasts this weekend.
Koeman’s team may not be good enough to win La Liga, but they are improving. Barcelona should tighten their grip on second place with a victory over Real Betis in Seville.