Real Betis vs Barcelona Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Real Betis have been excellent at the start of this season as Los Verdiblancos now welcome the rampant Barcelona down to La Cartuja in Seville.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Real Betis preview: Brilliant Betis
Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis come into this one on the back of a topsy turvy and entertaining 3-2 victory over Porto in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, having won by the same scoreline in Lille in the opening game of that competition.
The Andalusians have been strong throughout La Liga, too, with six wins and a draw in their eight matches thus far after they impressively dispatched of Osasuna by five goals to two last weekend.
Barcelona preview: Belting Barca
Hansi Flick and his back-to-back Spanish champions have been rampant and relentless throughout this campaign, continuing in midweek as they came from behind to hammer Galatasaray by four goals to one in Istanbul in the UEFA Champions League.
That means that the Blaugrana have now scored 43 goals in ten victories across all competitions so far this season after returning from the international break with a 3-0 hammering of Getafe at Camp Nou last week.
Real Betis team news: Nothing fresh
There are no fresh injury concerns for this one as former Leeds United left-back Junior Firpo remains sidelined for the hosts with Aitor Ruibal remains a doubt as he works his way back to full fitness.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alvaro Valles; Hector Bellerin, Marc Bartra, Natan, Fran Garcia; Facundo Bernal, Marc Roca; Antony, Isco, Abde Ez; Cucho
Unavailable: Junior Firpo (Injured)
Questionable: Aitor Ruibal (Fitness)
Barcelona team news: Raphinha could return
In-form Raphinha has missed the last couple of games but could be back in the squad this weekend, while Eric Garcia has sustained an injury in midweek and so is now a doubt himself.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Gerard Martin, Cancelo; Rodri, Pedri; Lamine Yamal, Fermin, Adeyemi; Gordon
Unavailable: Christensen (Injured), Bardghji (Injured)
Questionable: Eric Garcia (Injured), De Jong (Fitness), Raphinha (Fitness)
Real Betis vs Barcelona prediction
Betis started their season with defensive solidity and edging their way through but they have now evolved again into being a chaotic and entertaining watch as the season has gone on. They now come up against a Barca side that can be punished in behind but their form going forward is simply mesmeric and brilliant to watch and so a high-scoring away win is a decent bet for what is Barca’s toughest test this season thus far.
Real Betis vs Barcelona tip: Barcelona to win & over 2.5 goals
