The Game:
This game was never going to be easy for Barcelona and Real Betis are always a threat to the big teams in Spain. The game at the Benito Villamarin Stadium was not off to a great start for the Blaugrana when in the 3rd-minute, thanks to some excellent dribbling and a bit of luck, Nabil Fekir is able to pull off a shot that hits Clement Lenglet’s arm, and after VAR takes a look at the play, Betis get a penalty. Lenglet is given a yellow, something I think was a bit harsh, especially considering the game was three minutes in. Sergio Canales easily converts the penalty, and just like that, Betis are 1-0 up. The Blaugrana are not down for long when, in the 9th-minute, through some fantastic build-up play and an incredible Messi assist, Frenkie De Jong is able to score the equalizer for the Blaugrana. Both teams are able to hold off until the 26th-minute when a simple mistake by Arturo Vidal in the middle of the field leads to three Betis attackers against just two Barcelona defenders. Samuel Umtiti gives Fekir too much room, and Fekir finishes the play with a strong, low strike to the far right corner, just inside the eighteen-yard box. At the end of the first half, the Blaugrana get a free-kick, and Messi plays a beautiful cross into the box, which after a bit of chaos, Sergio Busquets is able to play the ball into the back of the net past Joel Robles. The first half finishes 2-2. The game stays even until the 72nd-minute when another Messi cross connects with the head of Lenglet, and just as Robles starts to dive toward the ball, he slips, and the ball hits the back of the net. The game becomes 2-3 for Barcelona. Only four minutes later, Fekir is given a, probably undeserved, yellow for a foul on Lenglet. Fekir is not happy about this, and his reaction to the yellow makes the referee give him and second, and he’s off. Just like that, Betis are down to 10 men. After just three minutes, Lenglet receives his second yellow for a foul on Joaquin. The game ends 2-3 with a couple of missed opportunities at the end by Barcelona and probably a penalty that should have been called by Bartra on Messi.
After the Game:
FC Barcelona: In this game, Setien decided to start two strikers instead of three, starting only Griezmann and Messi up top. The addition of an extra midfielder, especially it being Vidal, gave the team more fluidity between the midfield and the attack. Lenglet was unlucky to receive his first yellow, considering the game was 3 minutes in, but the second was completely deserved. The team are progressively getting better, and the players seem to get more adapted to Setien’s system as time goes on. Unfortunately for Barca after the game, the Blaugrana seem to have almost no center-backs for their next game. With Pique and Umtiti out injured, and Lenglet suspended, Tobido’s loan to Shalke is looking, more and more, like it was a huge mistake. We could see Busquets and Araujo paring in the next game against Getafe.
Real Betis: Betis’ inconsistency has been worrying at times, but they played well against Barca. Fekir was the standout performer, and he probably didn’t deserve his second yellow. In this loss, there were still many great performances (other than Fekir). One being Emerson who, Firpo and Alba (when he came on), had trouble containing. Another being Guido Rodriguez, who seems like he could be a mainstay in the squad even though he came from the Mexican league just a couple weeks ago. The team from Seville will obviously be disappointed with the loss, but they will have a chance to come back next week against an easier opponent in Leganes.
Football Thoughts 