Barcelona head into the weekend knowing that a win over Real Betis on Saturday would move them four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. The Catalan side travel to Seville fresh from a confident 3-1 victory against Atletico Madrid, while Real Betis also enjoyed a strong midweek result, easing past Torrent 4-1 in the Copa del Rey.
Real Betis approach the match unbeaten in eight games across all competitions, and optimism is growing around Manuel Pellegrini’s squad. Their 2-0 triumph in last weekend’s Seville derby pushed them up to 24 points from 14 matches, placing them fifth in the league with a solid record of six wins, six draws and only two losses.
Betis are also navigating their Europa League campaign well, and their midweek cup success reaffirmed the quality and depth Pellegrini has built. While they have not defeated Barcelona since December 2021, two of the last three meetings have ended in draws, including both league fixtures last season.
Barcelona, meanwhile, have enjoyed strong results in Seville against Betis for more than a decade, having last suffered a La Liga defeat there in March 2008. Their two clashes with Betis last season finished 2-2 and 1-1, but they arrive this weekend in impressive domestic form, seeking a sixth consecutive league win. Hansi Flick’s men were outstanding in their midweek performance against Atletico, and they remain top of the table, holding a narrow advantage over Real Madrid.
With four matches left before Spain’s winter break — including league games against Betis, Osasuna and Villarreal, plus a Champions League tie against Eintracht Frankfurt — Barcelona know that maintaining momentum is crucial. Both they and Real Madrid have shown vulnerabilities this season, setting the stage for a tightly contested title race. Barcelona’s aim will be to reach 2026 still sitting at the summit.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Real Betis will welcome the return of Antony, who missed the Sevilla match last weekend due to suspension, although Hector Bellerin and Isco remain unavailable as they continue to deal with injury problems. Sofyan Amrabat and Giovani Lo Celso will also need late fitness checks, and the team is expected to undergo major changes from the lineup that started against Torrent.
Rodrigo Riquelme scored a hat trick in the recent Copa del Rey fixture, but he is still expected to begin on the bench, with former Barcelona winger Abde Ezzalzouli likely to start on the opposite flank to Antony.
Barcelona, meanwhile, will be without Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi and Dani Olmo, all of whom are sidelined with injuries, and Ronald Araujo remains away from football for the moment. However, Fermin Lopez is ready to return after shaking off a muscular issue.
Frenkie de Jong, who missed the Atletico match through illness, is back in contention and expected to slot into central midfield. Pedri may be pushed into the number 10 role in Olmo’s absence, while Gerard Martin is once again set to feature at the heart of the defence. Ferran Torres and Marcus Rashford offer attacking options, but Robert Lewandowski is expected to lead the line.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Valles; Ruibal, Natan, Bartra, Gomez; Altimira, Roca; Antony, Fornals, Ezzalzouli; Hernandez
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martin, Balde; De Jong, E Garcia; Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
EXPERT PREDICTION
Betis 2-3 Barcelona
