Real Betis vs. Barcelona: Team News, Preview, Live Stream, TV Info
Given the fact that they are usually competing on every front possible, Barcelona aren’t used to having a full week to prepare for a match, and so Real Betis must be somewhat fearful ahead of this meeting at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.
One of a number of clubs in the middle reaches of the Primera Division table without much to play for right now, Betis will welcome the Catalans with the feeling that they don’t have much to lose here. Everyone expects them to taste defeat anyway.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
As far as Barcelona are concerned, there is no room for complacency.
They would go into this match down in third place in the table if Real Madrid win at Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano at home, but Luis Enrique knows his side hold their title fate in their own hands.
Win their remaining three matches and they will be champions again.
Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 7.30 p.m. BST/2.30 p.m. ET
Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarin, Seville
TV Info: Sky Sports 2
Live Stream: Sky Sports
Last 6 Results
Real Betis
Lost 1-0 vs. Malaga
Lost 5-1 vs. Atletico Madrid
Won 1-0 vs. Levante
Drew 1-1 vs. Celta Vigo
Won 1-0 vs. Las Palmas
Lost 2-0 vs. Sevilla
Barcelona
Won 2-1 vs. Atletico Madrid
Lost 1-0 vs. Real Sociedad
Lost 2-0 vs. Atletico Madrid
Lost 2-1 vs. Valencia
Won 8-0 vs. Deportivo
Won 6-0 vs. Sporting Gijon
Team News
Real Betis
Betis coach Juan Merino is still without the injured Juan Manuel Vargas and Cristiano Piccini, and he could be tempted to make changes to the side that lost the derby match with Sevilla last weekend.
Alvaro Cejudo, Fabian Ruiz and Ricky van Wolfswinkel all came on as substitutes and will be pushing to start, but it could just be that the former comes in for the youthful Charly Musonda, who is on loan at the club from Chelsea.
Club legend Ruben Castro is likely to plow a lone furrow up front.
Possible XI: Adan, Bruno Gonzalez, Pezzella, Westermann, Montoya, N’Diaye, Petros, Cejudo, Ceballos, Joaquin, Ruben Castro.
Barcelona
The full week’s rest enjoyed by Barcelona could barely have come at a better time for Luis Enrique, who is again without the injured Jeremy Mathieu.
The Barca boss’s most pressing decision is likely to come at right-back where Dani Alves could come back into the side to replace Sergi Roberto, but other than that, it is likely to be the same XI that hammered Sporting Gijon 6-0 last weekend.
Luis Suarez goes into the game having scored a frankly ridiculous eight goals in his past two games.
Possible XI: Bravo, Alves, Mascherano, Pique, Alba, Busquets, Rakitic, Iniesta, Neymar, Messi, Suarez.
Key Men
Real Betis: Martin Montoya
On-loan full-back Martin Montoya will play against his parent club and will have every right to feel a little conflicted, as anything Betis pick up would harm the title chances of a club where he spent 15 years.
However, he insists this won’t be an issue, telling the official Betis website, via Sky Sports:
"I have always said I want Barca to win every title possible because it is the team where I have always been and has given me the opportunity to grow.
[But] I am defending the shirt of Betis and I want to play and win again this weekend. The goal of this team is to get as high in the league as possible and I owe it to them to help them.
"
Barcelona: Luis Suarez
It had to be, didn’t it?
Suarez is in frankly ridiculous form right now, scoring eight times in his last two games as Barca responded to their wobble in form by hammering 14 goals past Deportivo and Sporting.
Another virtuoso display here would edge Barca closer to the title, and few players would deserve it more.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Betis – 17/2
Barcelona – 2/7
Draw – 5/1
