Betis 2-3 Barça: The Comeback, part two!

Within the opening five minutes the pattern of this game had been set, Barça on the front foot and moving the ball around well and Betis operating on the counter attack. After falling awkwardly when clearing the ball, Ronald Araujo had to be substituted before the 10 minute mark, replaced by Frenkie de Jong.

The verdiblancos looked to profit mainly down Barça’s right-hand side, whilst the Catalans looked to spread the play wide at every opportunity. Chances were at a premium in the first 30 minutes, with a congested midfield making life difficult for both teams.

Ousmane Dembélé and Antoine Greizmann were lively up front as Juanmi went close for Betis at the other end, with Clément Lenglet having the best chance to open the scoring, heading just wide when unmarked from Jordi Alba’s cross on 28.

Point blank

On 37 minutes, a quick counter attack from the hosts ended when Borja Iglesias slid home to make it 1-0, and that was the final action of any note before the official blew his whistle for half-time.

Joel Robles had to be at full stretch on 48 as Oscar Mingueza fired in a rocket of a shot from Dembélé’s pinpoint cross, Barça picking up the pace once more. Marc-André ter Stegen produced a moment of excellence again shortly after with a point-blank save to ensure Betis couldn’t extend their lead.

Venomous

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. On 56 minutes Lionel Messi came on, and he’d been on the pitch for just three minutes before he unleashed a venomous shot past Robles to level the scores. Dembélé tested the keeper soon after as Barça really started to apply the pressure.

Messi was then involved again, a sublime pass in a quick-fire move that ended with Victor Ruiz putting the ball into his own net. The Betis player soon scored at the right end though, with a towering header from a free-kick.

Stunning

With Loren Moron causing a few problems after coming on, the hosts came on strong late in the match, but with just four minutes to go, Trincão’s stunning curling shot into the top corner flew in off the bar, giving him his first goal for the club and the winner on the night.