FC Barcelona have won their catch-up game at Betis Sevilla after a tough fight, putting Real Madrid under pressure in La Liga. The royals are now challenged.
Barca found it extremely difficult to win 2-1 (0-0) against the very stable and tough Andalusians, but did not allow much against the sixth-placed team. It wasn’t until the 65th minute that Alex Baldé pulled away on the left wing after a quick free kick and put the ball sharply across in front of goal. Raphinha rushed up to the second post and pushed the ball over the line from close range to make it 1-0.
Lewandowski also scores
The ex-Munich and Dortmund player Robert Lewandowski hardly ever developed in this game, but in the 80th minute he proved once again that you shouldn’t give him too much space on such evenings. Ronald Araújo extended a corner kick into the middle of the penalty area, Lewandowski took it briefly and finished dryly from nine meters to make it 2-0.
Shortly thereafter, Baldé missed the preliminary decision and Betis actually came back into the game. When the Barca defense went over on the left, Jules Koundé blundered when trying to clear and maneuvered the ball over his own goal line: 1: 2 in the 85th minute. After that, Barcelona with national goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen kept their nerves and saved the three points over time despite a storm by Betis.
Force to win for the royals
At least for one night, the Catalans are now eight points ahead, pursuers Real must also win in the catch-up game against FC Valencia on Thursday (February 2nd, 2023) in order not to be able to tick off the championship early.
Barcelona have now been unbeaten in 14 competitive games. The club’s last defeat so far came in a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on October 26 last year.