End Betis’ slump against reeling Barça?
FC Barcelona just managed to avoid embarrassment in the Copa del Rey at the hands of a third division side, but now face a really uncomfortable away game in La Liga. Barça visit Real Betis in Sevilla on Sunday evening (18:30). Although Barça have a very good record against Betis recently and have also won more often at Benito Villamarin, the Beticos are still unbeaten at home this season – and hard to break down, while Barça travel to Andalusia visibly battered
Nonetheless, the Catalans are surprisingly clear favorites, as the odds of the betting providers with a German license show ahead of Betis Sevilla vs. However, another Barça victory against their favorite opponents is not a foregone conclusion given the Blaugrana’s current form and condition
Why FC Barcelona could stumble, what speaks in favor of Real Betis, the starting position and form curves of both teams as well as the last duels, we highlight in this preview of Betis Sevilla vs Barcelona including betting odds, forecast, betting tips and team checks for both clubs.
Betis Sevilla – stats & current form
While FC Barcelona had to play in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey during the week, Betis had a match-free week – the reason: The Verdiblancos were eliminated in the 3rd round of the cup. The focus is therefore entirely on the clash with the reigning champions, while Barça were first in Saudi Arabia for the Super Cup and then also traveled to Salamanca for the Copa.
This is certainly an advantage that should not be underestimated for Real Betis, who will be fresher than FC Barcelona. The general mood at Betis should also be better, even if things have been slow of late. Although there was a late (must-win) victory against FC Granada last matchday, the liberating 1:0 winning goal was only scored shortly before the end. Betis thus ended a five-game winless streak in the league
Remis king Betis loses touch with the upper echelons
The slump in La Liga, with just two wins in the last eight games, has widened the gap to fourth place to a whopping ten points. Fourth place is currently held by Barça – making the clash with the Catalans all the more important in terms of the Champions League places. And fifth place is already seven points away. Betis are simply splitting the points too often this season – five draws in eight games is their most recent record, with ten draws already making them the draw king in La Liga.
Will there be another draw against Barcelona? If you bet on it, you can get odds from 3.80 for Betis Sevilla vs. Barcelona. In this article, we explain where free bets are available, because betting on a draw is always a bit risky. Given the condition of both teams, however, it is perhaps also obvious. Betis are still unbeaten at home and, even more impressively, have only conceded four goals in ten games.
If you believe that this streak will continue, we recommend betting on the double chance X/2 at odds of 1.95 to 2.00 for Betis Sevilla vs Barcelona
Predicted line-up of Betis Sevilla:
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
From the visitors’ point of view, Betis Sevilla vs Barcelona could also be an obvious bet for a draw, because: Only one team has shared the points away from home more often than Barça (5 draws) – that is, quite precisely: Real Betis. Although Barça are still unbeaten away from home, they have scored just one point in five of their nine away games, which is not enough for the reigning champions.
Disappointing draws at Rayo, Mallorca, Getafe and Granada have thrown Barça far back in the title race, meaning that the Blaugrana are currently only fourth in the table, level on points with third-placed Athletic Bilbao, who have played one game more. The gap to arch-rivals Real Madrid is seven points and eight to leaders Girona – FC Barcelona simply cannot afford any more slip-ups, otherwise their title defense will look bleak
FC Barcelona avoid cup embarrassment – defense is a concern
However, the current state of the team gives little reason to hope that this will happen. In the final of the Supercopa de España in Saudi Arabia, Barça suffered a resounding 4-1 defeat against Real Madrid, and coach Xavi’s team did not disgrace themselves in the Copa del Rey days later either. On Thursday, Barça were even 1-0 down at third-division side Unionistas de Salamanca, but managed to avert the cup defeat in the second half and won 3-1.
Xavi’s forehead is particularly worried about the shaky defense: Barça have only managed to keep a clean sheet in three of their last 15 games, not only against La Liga’s relegation candidates and cellar dwellers with weak offenses, but even against third and fourth division teams.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
Betis Sevilla – Barcelona head-to-head comparison / H2H result
In view of Barça’s crumbling defense, it’s not only obvious that both teams will score, it used to be the order of the day. In the recent past, Betis and Barça have often been very spectacular duels with lots of goals. But in the last two games this rule has broken down, as Barça won 5-0 on matchday 5 this season and 4-0 last season, both at home.
At Benito Villamarin in Sevilla, however, there have always been goals on both sides in the last five duels – and always three or more goals. In the last 15 duels at Betis, that has even been the case twelve times. Only the aforementioned possible draw has not been seen in La Liga for a long time. The last draw dates back to 2017 and was 13 games ago. Could it be time again?
Betis Sevilla – Barcelona betting tip
Both score – and there’s a draw at the end? Making this prediction for Betis Sevilla vs. Barcelona is quite obvious when looking at the latest results and statistics. After all, Barça have yet to lose away from home and Betis are still unbeaten at home. The Catalans’ form and condition are also worrying, and Xavi’s chair is pretty shaky due to recent performances. A win for the champions is therefore anything but a foregone conclusion
Of course, that doesn’t mean that the Blaugrana can’t win again at Benito Villamarin, as the Catalans often like to win against one of their favorite opponents. If you exclude the 2023 Super Cup semi-final, which went to penalties (with the better end for Barça), FC Barcelona have won nine of the last ten duels. If you want to mitigate the risk of a draw, you can bet on this score at the break
