Barcelona had to settle for a 2-2 draw against Real Betis on Saturday, failing to outwit their host.
The Catalans bid farewell to their 2-1 lead in added time after a late goal from Assane Diao changed the narrative of the match in the final moments. Barca They may have felt unfair having to split the points, but they were ultimately lucky to get away with anything.
Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres scored for Barca, while Lamine Yamal and Jules Kounde also stood out as impressive performers.
How the match went
It was Betis who almost scored the first goal of the match after a ball from Diego Llorente flew into the area. Inaki Pena had no chance to block the attack, but luckily in-form winger Raphinha proved his talent in attack and defense, clearing the ball off the line and keeping the score level.
Another huge chance presented itself to the hosts moments later but, despite their efforts, Betis failed to take an early lead. After failing to thwart the Catalans, Betis were quickly forced to contend with numerous chances from the hungry visitors.
A great sequence of play was the precursor to Barça's first strike. A threaded passage of Pedri in Koundé presented a superb opportunity for the right-back to find Lewandowski who, when in doubt, scored to send his team into the lead.
It was a simple but fascinating occasion for the Catalans, who showcased their ability to communicate fluidly on the pitch.
As both teams left the pitch and headed to the locker rooms at halftime, Betis would certainly have felt more frustrated than a leading Barca side.
When play resumed, Betis continued to look for a way back into the game. Once again, they proved dangerous on headers – one chance from a Giovani Lo Celso free-kick and another moments later. late when the midfielder tried to nod a goal in.
Neither came to fruition and the hosts became increasingly frustrated with the lack of an end product.
The pace of the match changed just after the hour mark when a risky challenge from Frenkie de Jong knocked Vitor Roque off balance. The hosts demanded a penalty and got their wish after a VAR check.
Hansi Flick made his feelings clear about the penalty – and received a red card for his reaction.
Betis easily converted the penalty and suddenly got back into the game. But soon after, Barca youngster Yamal sprung into action – finding Torres who slipped the ball into the back of the net.
Just eight minutes from normal time, Barca looked to have escaped their trip to Sevilla with all three points, but Assane Diao had other plans. Without wasting time, Diao headed a well-timed cross into the net, leaving Barca with nothing but regrets for the final seconds of the match.
The whistle blows and it's over for Barça, who miss the opportunity to take a seven-point lead over the reigning champion. Real Madrid.
Check out the player ratings for Real Betis vs Barcelona here.
If you happen to read a transfer column before the winter or summer windows, you will likely come across a number of rumors linking Barca to a Lewandowski replacement. Of course, there is the question of his age, but the 36-year-old still plays like a player in his prime and should not be overlooked.
The Polish striker made the difference for the Catalans in the first half, scoring a goal in the back of the net thanks to a fine pass from Koundé.
His teammates know he is a reliable presence in front of goal, and his opponents fear his ability to finish. That's now 16 La Liga goals for Lewandowski this season – the league's top scorer continues to shine.
Barcelona boss Flick is usually a big presence on the touchline, but against Betis he let his emotions get the best of him. The Catalans never really took control of the match and could easily have left Saturday's clash with their heads in their hands.
But when a coach receives a red card for his reaction to a penalty decision, it usually doesn't bode well for the rest of the team.
After the Betis penalty, the Catalans struggled to get back into the game, with the likes of Yamal working very hard to encourage the rest of his teammates to dig deep. Ultimately, that's the manager's job, but he can't achieve it if he's banned from the touchline.
Even though Barca missed the chance to move seven points ahead of Madrid in Saturday's matches, they are still firmly at the top of the table. La Liga table.
Los Blancos won't be able to overtake them in this matchweek, but could close the gap to just two points if they win all three in their meeting with Girona.
The Catalans remain the team to beat, but questions now arise over whether they can maintain their immense start to the campaign.
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