Betis

If Barcelona’s plan was to comply with up the win towards Mallorca with a second successive optimistic consequence and keep the momentum, it’s protected to say that they failed of their goal.

The Catalans, final evening, and thus slumped to a different consequence the place they dropped factors painfully.

Robert Lewandowski gave the group the lead early on earlier than Betis equalised from the penalty spot after an pointless foul from Frenkie de Jong.

Ferran Torres’ potential late winner gave the impression to be sufficient to present Barcelona three factors however the group crumbled underneath the stress and conceded an extra-time equaliser to let Actual Betis stroll away with a degree.

Barça Common brings you three takeaways from Actual Betis 2-2 Barcelona.

A degree courtesy Inaki Pena

Barcelona had been minutes away from taking all three factors at Benito Villamarin and solely a stoppage-time equaliser noticed them cut up the spoils. That, nonetheless, doesn’t go to say that they deserved the win in any capability.

Barcelona had been certainly within the lead for the higher a part of the sport and didn’t path at any level, but it surely was Actual Betis who dominated the sport by way of and thru.

They created the higher possibilities, amped up stress on the Catalan defence periodically and attacked with intent, one thing that was lacking in Hansi Flick’s aspect.

If Los Verdiblancos didn’t go into the lead at any level on the evening, the credit score goes to Inaki Pena because the teenager stepped up and saved the menace at bay time and time once more.

Manuel Pellegrini’s aspect had a golden likelihood within the opening minutes of the sport that the Spanish shot-stopper heroically saved. Within the second half, he was known as into motion extra commonly and needed to make a number of saves to disclaim the hosts.

Pena could have racked up simply three saves on the evening, however they had been all large ones that saved his group within the recreation. If not for him, the scoreline would have been extra embarrassing and Barcelona could even haven’t had one level to point out.

In search of shortcuts

Originally of the season, Barcelona’s assault appeared free-flowing with possibilities being created from each flanks and thru the center.

That, nonetheless, has modified in current video games and is not the case in Catalonia.

The Blaugrana as soon as once more appeared comparatively flustered and impatient within the buildup final evening, choosing essentially the most dangerous cross as an alternative of the most effective out there choice and it usually led to possession being misplaced.

Barcelona are visibly hurried of their buildup, not taking the time required to surgically deconstruct defences as they did earlier within the season and it might be the stress or the fatigue taking.

Additional, the group is on a relentless decline by way of possibilities created by way of the center with gamers solely searching for the lengthy ball and the counterattack.

The Catalans’ buildup play final evening was virtually completely on the 2 flanks with nothing coming by way of the center. Not like earlier than, the centre-backs are not discovering their males with lengthy balls whereas the midfielders don’t seem as efficient in assault.

Flick has critical issues to unravel if Barcelona are to return to their finest, for the group requires a number of attacking threats and can’t frequently depend upon Lamine Yamal. Additional, searching for shortcuts in lengthy passes is solely not the best way to go.

From leaders to contenders

From being clear and sole leaders, Barcelona have slipped repeatedly in La Liga and the most recent draw means they’ve only one win of their final 5 video games within the competitors.

At one level, they had been the clear favourites to run away with the title but it surely didn’t take lengthy for the time to come back when followers doubted if they may even stay on the high.

It’s merely unforgivable for Barcelona to take 5 in 15 factors and the resultant collapse has allowed Actual Madrid inside two factors of them with a recreation in hand. Evidently, Barcelona have thrown away their benefit cheaply.

What’s extra, is that Atletico Madrid are at present simply six factors behind Barcelona with two video games in hand. In the event that they win their video games, they may even equal Barcelona within the standings and it’s astounding how the group’s lead has come all the way down to this.

The credit score Hansi Flick was given for turning round Barcelona’s scenario was certainly deserved, but it surely now seems that he has been discovered and is struggling to adapt to La Liga’s speedy adaptation.

If the supervisor doesn’t act shortly, La Liga might be out of sight very quickly.