Barcelona's eight-game winning run in La Liga came to an end on Saturday evening, with Real Betis coming from behind to claim a point in a 1-1 draw with the division leaders.
Hansi Flick's side entered the match knowing that a victory would move them six points clear at the top of the La Liga table, with second-placed Real Madrid losing at home to Valencia earlier in the day.
Gavi sent Barcelona ahead in the early stages of the contest, but Real Betis answered back soon after when Natan headed a corner from Giovani Lo Celso into the back of the net.
Neither side were able to find a second in Catalonia, with the points ultimately being shared in a low-scoring draw.
Barcelona have moved four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid at the summit, while Real Betis have jumped a spot into fifth, now only five points off fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Real Madrid's slip-up earlier in the day had presented Barcelona with a wonderful opportunity to move six points clear at the top of the division, but this was never going to be a straightforward match against a classy Real Betis outfit.
Even without star playmaker Isco, Real Betis carried a threat, and they also showed their defensive qualities throughout the evening to repel a host of pressure, especially in the second half of the contest.
While the ball was dominated by Barcelona, the visitors just refused to concede a second, and Manuel Pellegrini's side are now threatening to break into the top four late in the season, which would be remarkable.
Barcelona would, of course, have been desperate to triumph on Saturday, but this could be a good point come the end of the season, especially as they have now moved further ahead of Real Madrid, with four points the advantage with eight games left.
Flick's side are very much in the driving seat heading into the final straight, and it could be a famous end to the campaign for the club, as they are also chasing success in the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
BARCELONA VS. REAL BETIS HIGHLIGHTS
7th min: Barcelona 1-0 Real Betis (Gavi)
Barcelona make the breakthrough in the seventh minute of the contest, and the goal comes from Gavi, with the midfielder turning the ball into the corner of the net following a terrific pass from Ferran Torres.
17th min: Barcelona 1-1 Real Betis (Natan)
All square here, with Real Betis getting their name on the scoresheet; the corner comes in from Lo Celso, and Natan is on hand to head into the back of the net to level it up against the division leaders.
MAN OF THE MATCH - GAVI
© Imago
Natan deserves a mention for his excellent performance in the middle of the Real Betis defence, but it is Gavi that takes the award, with the midfielder in wonderful form for Barcelona on Saturday night.
The Spaniard made the breakthrough with an excellent goal, while he also completed two tackles and finished with a pass success rate of 92%, as the 20-year-old thrived in the number 10 position.
BARCELONA VS. REAL BETIS MATCH STATS
Possession: Barcelona 74%-26% Real Betis
Shots: Barcelona 13-6 Real Betis
Shots on target: Barcelona 5-2 Real Betis
Corners: Barcelona 9-3 Real Betis
Fouls: Barcelona 16-12 Real Betis
BEST STAT
2 - Real Betis have avoided defeat in their two games against Barcelona in @LaLigaEN 2024/25 (2-2 and 1-1), something they had not achieved in a season in the competition since 2006/07 (1-1 both).
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 5, 2025
Resilience. pic.twitter.com/jLT0bnGMX8
WHAT NEXT?
Barcelona's attention will now switch to the Champions League, preparing to welcome Borussia Dortmund for the first leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday night, before heading to Leganes in La Liga next Saturday.
As for Real Betis, the Seville outfit will be looking to return to winning ways when they welcome Jagiellonia Bialystok on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Conference League quarter-final, before hosting Villarreal in a huge league fixture next Sunday.
Matt Law
