PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Real Betis

FC Barcelona suffered just their third defeat of the Liga season at Rayo Vallecano midweek. But despite that setback, their position is actually stronger than ever. Because Real Madrid had also lost, in their case to Girona the day before, the difference between the top two is still 11 points, but with one game fewer left to play.

Just three days later, and Barça are back in action in a home fixture against Real Betis. Games between these two sides have produced plenty of entertainment in recent years, and with the Catalans moving closer and closer to mathematical confirmation of the championship title and the Andalusians still very much in contention for a European berth next season, this one surely won't be an exception.

And there's been some good news from the treatment room, with not one but two key players set to make their comebacks from injury.

Head to head

Betis are no strangers to victory at Spotify Camp Nou. In 2018 they won 4-3 in a quite extraordinary game, and just last season a late goal from Juanmi Jiménez earned them a 1-0 win in one of Xavi's first ever games in charge.

There have been three meetings since then, none of them in the Catalan capital, and although they have all resulted in Barça victories, they were all tight affairs. At the Benito Villamarin last season, it took a Jordi Alba goal three minutes into injury time to nab a 2-1 win, and the Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh was decided on penalties following a pulsating 2-2 draw.

And in the reverse Liga fixture in Seville, Barça led 2-0 thanks to goals from Rapinha and Robert Lewandowski, but Betis pulled one back late on and very nearly snatched a point.

Betis form guide

Betis got off to a fabulous start in the league and for much of the competition were in the Champions League positions. They haven't quite managed to keep that brilliant form going, but are still not entirely out of the UCL race, although a Europa league berth is probably a more realistic prospect now. That's the competition they were playing in this year, where like FC Barcelona, they were knocked out by Manchester United.

The last few weeks have seen Betis hit their poorest form of the season so far. They have only won two of their last eight games and have lost three of the last five (against Atlético Madrid, Cádiz and Osasuna). In their most recent outing, they missed a great chance to narrow the gap on fourth-placed Real Sociedad when the two sides met and the game ended 0-0.

Team news

There was great news from the treatment room this Friday when it was announced that both Ousmane Dembélé and Andreas Christensen are fully fit and have been included in the squad. The French striker has not been seen on the pitch for three months, while the Danish defender was hurt while away on international duty a month ago.

Sergio Busquets also returns after missing the Rayo game through suspension, with the only injury concern now being Sergi Roberto. The much talked-about youngster Lamine Yamal, a striker of just 15 years of age, has been called up for the third time a row, but has yet to make his debut. Could this one be his chance?

Betis are without a key man in Nabil Fekir. After tearing cruciate ligaments in his knee in February, he is out for the rest of the season. But one man who is in the squad is club legend, Joaquín, who will be making his last ever appearance at Spotify Camp Nou. The hugely charismatic captain is retiring at the end of the season. He has scored six goals against Barça in 29 meetings.

Xavi says

"The other day against Rayo Vallecano was our worst game of the season. Now we need to regroup against a team that plays the way we do. Pellegrini also likes to control the ball."

"We'll have to decide whether Dembélé starts or comes on later to stir things up. There aren't many players as good as him in the one-one-one."

"Ansu has competition for a place. Right now Ferran and Raphinha are both playing better, and Robert is always a guarantee. Ansu has ferocious competition and so he needs to be ferocious too. Christensen is another important player to get back. He was a player who I asked the club to sign."

"Joaquín is one of the best wingers I ever saw. I always thought he was someone who could play for Barça. He's such a happy, noble, fun person. A great team-mate and a hard worker. My fondest memory of him will be his smile."