Real Betis vs Barcelona, La Liga: Match Thread, Live Updates

FULL-TIME, Real Betis 2-4 Barcelona: A brilliant game of football ends with a great win for a Barça team that played great attacking football all night and deserved the three points. They’re back in third place and remain alive in the title race, and a win at the Benito Villamarín is always cause for celebration. Well done, boys!

90+2’ GOAL!!! Real Betis 2-4 Barcelona (Ferran): IT’S FOUR!!!! Barça make sure of the win as Yamal slips a gorgeous ball through to Ferran, who completes his hat-trick with a beautiful chip over Rui Silva to make sure of the three points!!!

90’ GOAL!!! Real Betis 2-3 Barcelona (Félix): BARÇA SCORE AT THE DEATH!!! João Félix comes off the bench to score the potential winner as he makes a one-two with Ferran at the edge of the box and uses the outside of his right foot to curl a beauty into the bottom corner for what could be an amazing winning goal!!!

59’ GOAL, Real Betis 2-2 Barcelona (Isco): Betis equalize. It’s Isco again as a pass from the right wing goes over the Barça backline and finds the former Real Madrid man who chips the ball over Iñaki Peña and makes the game all square. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but VAR cleared the goal and judged Borja Iglesias to not have touched the ball which kept Isco onside.

56’ GOAL, Real Betis 1-2 Barcelona (Isco): Betis are back in it. Barça can’t properly clear a cross from the right wing and Isco scores an amazing half-volley of his own and puts the home team on the board.

48’ GOAL!!! Real Betis 0-2 Barcelona: BARÇA DOUBLE THE LEAD!!! Lamine Yamal does all the work with a beautiful individual move on the right wing and a cross that hits the post and falls perfectly to Ferran who scores a gorgeous goal on the half-volley!

SECOND HALF KICKOFF! Real Betis 0-1 Barcelona: Back underway in Seville!

HALFTIME, Real Betis 0-1 Barcelona: Barça played their best 45 minutes in a long time, with total control of the ball and very good possession work to create chances and take a well-earned lead to the dressing room at the break. It’s still only one goal, however, so Barça must keep up the good work to confirm the victory.

45’ GOAL DISALLOWED: Barça double the lead as Ferran gives Robert Lewandowski an easy tap-in, but the goal is ruled out for a narrow offside on Lewandowski in the buildup.

21’ GOAL!!! Real Betis 0-1 Barcelona (Ferran): BARÇA TAKE THE LEAD!!! Ilkay Gündogan tries to switch the play but his pass is intercepted and falls perfectly to Pedri, who gives Ferran Torres the easiest of tap-ins to put Barça in front!

KICKOFF! Real Betis 0-0 Barcelona: And we’re underway in Seville!

WELCOME TO THE ESTADIO BENITO VILLAMARÍN!!! The amazing home of Real Betis in beautiful Seville is the site of a monster La Liga clash between the hosts and Barcelona, who come into this one looking for three points to keep pace with the leaders and stay alive in the title race. But it won’t be easy against a Betis side that always provides a brutal test at home, even though they come into this one missing several key pieces. This should be fun, and you’re welcome to join us to follow and comment all the action. Vamos!

(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)

BARCELONA

Starting XI: Peña; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsí, Balde; Gündogan, De Jong; Yamal, Pedri, Ferran; Lewandowski (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Astralaga (GK), Kochen (GK), Fort, Romeu, Roberto, Fermín, Félix, Roque, Guiu

REAL BETIS

Starting XI: Silva; Bellerín, Pezzella, Sokratis, Abner; Johnny, Roca; Henrique, Isco, Diao; José (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Vieites (GK), Fekir, Iglesias, Cruz, Rodri, Altimira, Pleguezuelo, Visus, Busto

Competition/Round: 2023-24 La Liga, Matchday 21

Date/Time: Sunday, January 21, 2024, 6.30pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 5.30pm GMT (UK), 12.30pm ET, 9.30am PT (USA), 11pm IST (India)

Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain

Referee: Jesús Gil Manzano

VAR: Carlos Del Cerro Grande

On TV: ESPN Deportes (USA), Viaplay Xtra (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), Movistar (Spain), others

Online: ESPN+ (USA), LaLigaTV (UK), Movistar+ (Spain), others

We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:

Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, watch the swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.

Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!