Barcelona survived a late scare towards Real Betis to safe a 2-1 win and at the least briefly lengthen their lead on the high of La Liga to eight factors earlier than Real Madrid play on Thursday night time.
Barça went into the sport at Benito Villamarin figuring out they’d the chance to begin pulling away from their fierce rivals in Madrid. But it took till effectively into the second half for the breakthrough to return, with Raphinha and later Robert Lewandowski finally netting.
An personal purpose from Joules Kounde in the closing levels threatened to make it a tough finish for Xavi’s crew, however they managed to see it out. Betis midfielder William Carvalho, who had already been substituted with an hour performed, was then despatched off for dissent on the recreation’s conclusion.
Betis had been truly the primary to threaten in the competition, seeing Luiz Henrique solely narrowly miss an early probability when his shot was deflected simply huge by Alejandro Balde.
Pedri had an opportunity for Barça on the different finish not lengthy after, however his contact in the penalty space wasn’t sharp sufficient and Rui Silva in the house purpose received down to choose the ball off his toe.
Silva once more denied Pedri after the restart, however Raphinha broke the impasse in the sixty fifth minute. The Brazilian, whose debut season hasn’t been a rip-roaring success, tapped in from shut vary after wonderful work from Balde down the left flank.
Lewandowski’s finally decisive second was from solely a little bit additional out, pounced on by the Pole after Ronald Araujo flicked on Raphinha’s cross.
That cushion was sufficient for Barça and ensured that Kounde’s personal purpose mattered little in the tip.
GK: Silva (6); RB: Ruibal (7), CB: Pezzella (6), CB: Felipe (6), LB: Abner (6); CM: Rodriguez (6), CM: Carvalho (5); RM: Henrique (7), AM: Fekir (6), LM: Canales (6); ST: Iglesias (6)
Subs: Guardado (6), Juanmi (6), Rodri (6), Jose (5), Sabaly (6)
GK: Ter Stegen (6); RB: Kounde (6), CB: Araujo (7), CB: Chistensen (7), LB: Balde (8); CM: De Jong (7), CM: Busquets (8), CM: Pedri (7); RW: Raphinha (8), ST: Lewandowski (7), LW: Gavi (7)
Subs: Fati (5), Torres (N/A), Kessie (N/A)