FC Barcelona is set to host Real Betis this Saturday at home, following a successful week. The Blaugrana secured a victory against Girona in their recent La Liga game and advanced to the Copa del Rey final by defeating Atletico de Madrid. They are now preparing to compete against Real Madrid in the final scheduled for April 26 in Sevilla.
Barcelona currently leads La Liga, holding a three-point advantage over Real Madrid, while Atletico Madrid is further behind, seemingly out of contention for the title with only nine matches remaining this season.
Ahead of their upcoming UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, Barcelona`s coach is expected to make some changes to the starting lineup. Real Betis, positioned sixth in the league, is aiming for a Champions League spot, trailing fourth place by six points. Both Barcelona and Real Betis have won their last six La Liga matches.
Barcelona will miss several key players due to injuries, including Dani Olmo, Marc Casado, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen. However, Lamine Yamal is likely to be in the starting eleven. Here’s a preview of the match, including viewing details and betting odds:
Match Details and Betting Odds
- 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 at Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. In their La Liga match in Sevilla, the game ended in a 2-2 draw, with Real Betis`s Assane Diao scoring a late equalizer.
Barcelona`s Manager Thoughts
In a pre-match press conference, Barcelona`s coach mentioned the upcoming game against Real Betis would be challenging, emphasizing Real Betis`s coach experience and ability to improve players, using Antony`s performance as an example. He also expressed confidence in his team`s self-belief and determination to compete for all possible titles.
Projected 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 from Manchester United has found renewed form at Real Betis under Manuel Pellegrini, scoring two goals and providing two assists in eight La Liga games. His performance highlights potential struggles for players at Manchester United currently. This match against Barcelona provides a significant platform for him to showcase his abilities.
Key Storyline
Szczesny`s Future at Barcelona? Barcelona is considering extending goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny`s contract beyond the 2024-25 season. Signed after Marc ter Stegen`s injury, Szczesny has proven his value to the club, leading to discussions about a new deal despite his earlier retirement announcement.
Match Prediction
Given Real Betis`s current form, Barcelona may face a tough challenge. However, a narrow victory for Barcelona is anticipated.
Prediction: FC Barcelona 2, Real Betis 1.
