Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys will play host to an intriguing La Liga contest on Saturday evening, with division leaders Barcelona welcoming a Real Betis side that have won each of their last six league fixtures.
Barcelona are top of the La Liga table, three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, while Real Betis are sixth, only six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao in the race for the Champions League positions.
Match preview
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Barcelona are a winning machine at the moment, triumphing in each of their last seven matches in all competitions, while they have taken the maximum points from their last nine league games, which has given them control of the title race.
Hansi Flick's side were 4-1 winners over Girona in La Liga last weekend, and a total of 66 points from 29 matches has left them at the top of the table, three points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid.
Barcelona are fighting on three fronts heading towards the latter stages of the campaign, having booked their spot in the Copa del Rey final on Wednesday night courtesy of a 1-0 success over Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final.
The Catalan giants will tackle Real Madrid in the final of that competition at the end of April, while they will host Borussia Dortmund next week for the first leg of their quarter-final in the Champions League.
A spectacular treble cannot be ruled out considering Barcelona's incredible firepower, and they have now found the back of the net on 82 occasions in 29 league matches this season, which is 20 more than the reigning champions Real Madrid.
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Real Betis are set to provide a big challenge for Barcelona this weekend, though, with the Seville outfit in stunning form, triumphing in each of their last six league matches, including a 2-1 success over Sevilla in the Seville derby last time out.
Manuel Pellegrini's side are sixth in the table, seven points ahead of seventh-placed Rayo Vallecano, while they are level on points (47) with fifth-placed Villarreal and now just six off Athletic Bilbao in fourth.
The Green and Whites have won three of their last four away matches in La Liga, scoring five times in their last two, while their recent run of victories includes a home success over Real Madrid.
Real Betis held Barcelona to a 2-2 draw in the reverse meeting in Seville earlier this season, but they were beaten 5-1 by the Catalan giants when the pair met in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey back in January.
The Seville team do have a recent away victory over Barcelona to their name, though, running out 1-0 winners in December 2021, and Pellegrini's side will enter this clash full of confidence due to the level that they have recently been operating at.
Team News
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Barcelona remain without the services of Dani Olmo, Marc Casado, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen due to injury problems, while a late check will need to be made on Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old suffered a nasty cut to his foot during the Copa del Rey clash with Atletico on Wednesday night, but the expectation is that the Spain international will be available for selection this weekend.
Head coach Flick could make two changes to the side that started in the capital last time out, with Robert Lewandowski and Gavi potentially coming in for Ferran Torres and Fermin Lopez.
Ronald Araujo is another option in the middle of the defence, but Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez have both been outstanding for the Catalan giants during the 2024-25 campaign.
As for Real Betis, there will be another start down the right for on-loan Manchester United attacker Antony, who has been outstanding since his arrival in Seville before the end of the January transfer window.
Marc Roca remains a doubt due to a foot problem, while key attacker Isco is suspended due to the milestone yellow card that he picked up in the clash with Sevilla last time out.
Giovani Lo Celso for Isco is likely to be the only change from the side that took to the field for the first whistle in the Seville derby, with Pablo Fornals set to keep hold of his spot in a deeper midfield position.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Szczesny; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Adrian; Sabaly, Bartra, Llorente, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Lo Celso, J Rodriguez; Hernandez
We say: Barcelona 2-1 Real Betis
Real Betis have been outstanding of late, and it would certainly not be a surprise to see Pellegrini's team claim a positive result this weekend; Barcelona are absolutely flying, though, and we are therefore expecting the division leaders to navigate their way to a crucial three points in front of their own supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
