Barcelona vs Real Betis

La Liga champions-elect Barcelona will be looking to bounce back from a midweek heartache when they meet underperforming Real Betis at Spotify Camp Nou.

Barcelona wasted a huge chance to waltz away with the league title with seven games to go, as Rayo Vallecano stunned Xavi Hernandez’s side 2-1 in midweek La Liga action. But that’s likely only postponed the inevitable, with the ‘Blaugrana’ coming into this matchday 11 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid. As the only La Liga side yet to lose at home this term (W12, D3), the runaway leaders are looking to build on their imperious eight-game top-flight H2H record against Betis (W7, D2). Only two conceded goals in 15 league outings at Camp Nou this term perhaps best illustrates Barcelona’s stellar domestic season. But after letting in an average of 2.25 goals per game in their last four home league H2Hs against Betis, their rock-solid defense will be under scrutiny.

Meanwhile, visiting Betis could only manage a goalless home draw against direct top-four rivals Real Sociedad in midweek, failing to reduce an ominously-looking nine-point gap between the sides. Having picked up just four points in the last five La Liga rounds (W1, D1, L3), the visitors are on the verge of missing out on a coveted top-four finish. Adding to Betis’ fears of falling outside touching distance of Sociedad, they failed to find the net three times during that five-game stretch. Turning their fortunes around will need Manuel Pellegrini’s team to address their travel sickness after three defeats on their last four competitive road trips (D1). Though it sounds bizarre, Camp Nou could be an ideal venue to embark on that mission, with ‘Los Verdiblancos’ emerging victorious in two of their four previous top-flight H2Hs in Catalonia (W2).