Barça beat Betis twice to stay alive
Ferran, Joao Félix and Yamal, protagonists of three points that put Isco in suspense at the Villamarín
MADRID, 21 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona beat Real Betis (2-4) this Sunday on matchday 21 of LaLiga EA Sports to not fail in its pursuit of the lead, thanks to a hat trick from Ferran Torres and a triumphant entry from Joao Félix in the final minutes.
Benito Villamarín tested a Barça that seems to still be standing despite the various setbacks it is accumulating. This time the game went to Xavi Hernández's team, but Manuel Pellegrini's team tied 0-2 with a great reaction in the second half led by Isco. In the end, with the defense of the League at stake, the champion found Joao Félix and Ferran again.
The blaugrana team's rocky season had an oasis of 50 minutes of enjoyment at the Villamarín. Betis, who were risking missing the European train after the victories of Real Sociedad, Valencia and Las Palmas, did not lock themselves in behind, nor did they suffocate in their pressure and Barça had space and time to think. With a comfortable and very talented midfield with De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri, Xavi's team had a great first half although with that lack of goals that also haunts them.
Only Ferran's player got on the scoreboard at 20 minutes, with some luck on a rebound that fell to Pedri. The Canarian gave the goal to a 'Shark' who never stops showing his fangs and Barça was able to double their advantage with a ball that hit Lamine Yamal's post and in a goal disallowed by Robert Lewandowski by a hair's breadth just before half-time.
Like everything good about the Barça team this season, the Barça script did not last long in Seville, despite the fact that Yamal once again made a difference with those spaces and Ferran demonstrated his magnetism with the goal to make it 0-2 shortly after the restart. . The game was very much in the face of Xavi's team, but Betis found their beacon Isco and Barça ruined their lead in three minutes.
The entry of Fekir at half-time also gave another air to the Betis and Pellegrini's men combined with danger. Betis felt the change of scenery and their push was accompanied by goals. Isco quickly bounced a clearance by Iñaki Peña, after another loose ball that Fekir forgave, and the man from Malaga himself overtook the rival goalkeeper inside the small area: 2-2 at one point.
With half an hour still left, Barça breathed a sigh of relief in the 70th minute with their first arrivals at the rival goal. Xavi brought on Vitor Roque, Fermín and, at the end, Joao Félix, but the visiting options involved finding Ferran's state of grace. Betis defended well and, with the pulse even, Joao Félix appeared with a tremendous goal from the outside in the 90th minute.
The Portuguese burst on after just 10 minutes on the field but had to share the headline of the Barça chronicle. Already in stoppage time, Ferran scored his hat trick, with Yamal also rounding off his great afternoon at Villamarín. The current champion emerged victorious from a trial by fire to think that he is still alive and confident to get through delicate moments ahead, although he also needs Real Madrid and Girona to stop winning.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: REAL BETIS, 2 – FC BARCELONA, 4. (0-1, at halftime).
–ALIGNMENTS.
REAL BETIS: Rui Silva; Bellerín, Pezzella, Sokratis, Abner; Cardoso (Altimira, min73), Marc Roca; Luiz Henrique, Isco, Diao (Fekir, rest); and Willian José (Borja Iglesias, rest).
FC BARCELONA: Iñaki Peña; Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí (John Felix, min.80), Bucket; De Jong, Gundogan, Pedri (Fermin, min.71); Ferran, Yamal and Lewandowski (Vitor Roque, min.63).
–GOALS:
0 – 1, min.21, Ferran.
0 – 2, min.48, Ferran.
1 – 2, min.56, Isco.
2 – 2, min.59, Isco.
2 – 3, min.90, Joao Félix.
2 – 4, min.92, Ferran.
–REFEREE: Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño). He cautioned Abner (min.72) for Betis. And De Jong (min.58) and Roque (min.96) at Barça.
–STADIUM: Benito Villamarín.
–INCIDENTS: Before the match, tribute was paid to Andrés Guardado, a foreign footballer with the most appearances in the history of Betis, who announced his farewell to the Andalusian team.