Real Betis 2-3 Barcelona: result, summary, goals

Thanks for your time tonight as once again we saw Koeman's Barcelona side showing character and personality as they secured a late win against a resilient Real Betis side.  

Real Betis are next in action next Sunday as they face Villarreal in Castellon.

Next up for Ronald Koeman's men is a return to the Andalusian capital on Wednesday as they face Sevilla FC in the first leg of the Copa del Rey (2020/21) semi-final at the Sanchez Pizjuan. 

Barcelona reclaim second spot in the league table with Madrid and Sevilla also winning at the weekend. At. Madrid are in action on Monday night (at home vs. Celta Vigo) and can move ten points clear with a win over the Galician side.

The match winning moment from Francisco Trincao as the Portuguese striker rifles the ball into the Real Betis net to open his LaLiga account for the Catalan outfit. 

A real game of chalk and cheese. An average first 45' offset with an excellent second 45 minutes and hugely entertaining half. Pedri and Messi's introduction very much instrumental in changing Barcelona's fortunes as the Argentine bagged a goal in just after three minutes of action. 

FT in Seville:

The clock has hit min 93.... another resilient display from Koeman's side who once again dug deep to secure maximum points. 

Mingueza collides with a pitch side camera man and seemed to bang his head with the equipment.... play resumes

Three minutes of time to be added

Into the final minute of regulation time we go.... Barcelona will go second should the score remain as it is. 

Huge blow for the home side with faces of frustration as Trincao bags his first LaLiga goal for the Catalan side.

Trincao with a exquisite strike as Barcelona take the lead again. A sweet left footed hit from the former Braga man . 

Betis now looking the brighter side. Canales already pulling the strings for the home side.

Danger as Umtiti is forced to clear as Canales fires a dangerous ball into the box as Ruiz forces a decent stop from Ter Stegen.

Two changes for Betis: Canales and Loren on ... Iglesias and Fekir make way.

Ten minutes remain at the Estadio Benito Villamarin and it remains 2-2. One senses the home side would settle for the point but Barcelona still pushing for maximum points with a single point doing little for any outside title aspirations. 

Tello on for Juanmi

Into the wall.... out for a corner.

Messi stands over the ball with this dangerous free kick.

Umtiti on for Busquets

Ruiz fouls Messi and is carded

Guido on for Paul (Betis switch)

What a turnaround in the game with a great game on the cards here in this second 45'

Great free from Fekir and Ruiz did so well to rise past Busquets to nod the Andalusian men level.

Goooooooooooool Betis draw level as Ruiz makes amends and bags the equaliser. 

Danger here for Barcelona with the French striker to take the set piece. 

Busquets carded as he trips Fekir right on the edge of the box

Less than 20' left in Seville. Betis do need to change things around. 

Barcelona now very much in control with both Messi and Pedri's impact game changing. 

Gooooooooool. Messi and Trincao combine with Alba as the ball ends up in the back of the Real Betis net. The ball coming off Ruiz for an o.g.

Canales warming up for Betis. The Cantabrian would be a much needed asset for Betis now.

Dembele breaks and tries to lob Robles who saves well. The game coming to life now ..... a totally different proposition to the first 45' which was somewaht flat. 

Rodri on for Betis with Aitor as Moreno almost creates serious danger for the home side. 

Dembele hacks Moreno and is carded

Fekir has a go from distance from Betis but straight at Ter Stegen who has no difficulty in gathering.

Barça buzzing now with the goal offering a major shot in the arm for the Catalan side.

Vintage Messi finish as the ball just kisses the post before nestling in the back of the net. What an impact substitute from Koeman. 

Messiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii left foot, just moments after coming on.... the Argentine driving the ball past Robles

Four strikers in action for Barcelona now with Dembele, Griezmann, Messi and Trincao.

Betis yet to make any switches with Pellegrini remaining true to the starting XI. 

Messi on for Puig. Trincao too comes on with Pjanic making way.

Mandi is on the ground and seems to be in trouble as his screams are audible as he tangles with Pjanic.

Juanmi almost makes it two with Ter Stegen alert to save the day for Barça. Great link up play with Fekir.

Messi throws down his tracksuit top with the Argentine set to join the action. 

Pedri has looked bright for Barcelona since coming on with a better ten minutes for the Catalan side.

Victor Ruiz alert to save the day for Betis as the defender manages to intercept with Griezmann waiting to pounce.

Pedri fouled and Barcelona win a free kick in a dangerous area. Robles organising his rear guard.

With that De Jong pull-back, Barcelona have committed just one foul all game as Robles saves well from Mingueza.

De Jong carded for pulling back Fekir

Off we go, Barcelona start the second half ... Messi is warming up.

Confirmation of the Barcelona switch: Braithwaite off-Pedri on

Table topping Atletico Madrid are in action tomorrow night facing Celta Vigo in the Spanish capital

The teams enter the tunnell .... Pedri does look to be set to perform. 

Plenty of food for thought for Ronald Koeman at the break with this version of his Barcelona side really failing to gel. Messi and Pedri set to enter the fray possibly ?

The whistle sounds in Seville and it's Real Betis who lead at the interval. Borja Iglesias with the goal for 'Los Verdiblancos' 

Braithwaite wins a free-kick after being checked by Emerson. Danger for Betis with Alba delivers. The ball loops behind the goal and easy for Joel Robles.

Mingueza wins the left sided battle against Alex Moreno with four minutes of time to be added.

Pjanic tries to thread a ball through but a poor delivery from the Bosnian international.... sums up the first half for the Catalan side.

What will Ronald Koeman do at the break? Will he go for it and bring on the Argentine No. 10 ?

Into the final five of the half and Betis possibly justifiably ahead with the Andalusian men just shading the action as Pjanic almost finds the next but the flag was up against Griezmann

Fine assist from Emerson and decent finish from the Galician striker

Gooooooolllllllll

El Panda Borja Iglesias puts the home side ahead as Betis countered with Mingueza out of position. 

Less than 10 remain in Seville. Both sides will point to tired legs with midweek exertion in the cup a mitigating factor. 

Fekir and Juanmi combine but the final ball is just overhit as Ter Stegen intercepts.

Dembele lands badly after winning a header.... limited flow so far from either side.

Barcelona dominating possession as the Catalan side now start to assert come control in the game. 

Mingueza clipped by Iglesias, no card but the right back clutching his ankle but seems to be okay to continue. 

Mandi forced to concede a corner with the Algerian under pressure to give the Catalan side the first of the night. Lenglet goes close and should have netted as he steers his header wide. 

Barcelona yet to find a groove tonight with little link-up play from the FCB attacking trio. Betis certainly looking the more cohesive side so far. 

Very little involvement from either goalkeeper. All the play compressed in the centre of the park with Robles and Ter Stegen virtual spectators so far tonight as Juanmi goes close after fine work from Iglesias and Fekir. 

The Algerian is back on the pitch for Manuel Pellegrini's side with Alex Moreno now in some distress after colliding with Dembele. 

Worry now for Real Betis as defender Mandi pulls up and seems to have a problem... possible calf strain....Sidnei  warming up on the Betis bench

Barça's Mingueza and Moreno (Betis) vie for a ball at the Estadio Benito Villamarin tonight. 

Fekir clips Busquets with the French striker's brother on the bench tonight for the Andalusian side !

Coming up to the 15' mark and it's Betis who are probably the happier of the sides with the Araujo injury a major convern for Koeman.

Great work from Dembele who almost threads the ball through to Alba. 

Betis almost find a breakthrough, once again via their left hand side as De Jong finally enters the action.

Doesn't look good for the central defender with De Jong getting ready to come on. 

The young defender is still getting medical attention as the action resumes.... 

Worry here for Barcelona with the central defender being excellnt this season for the Catalan side.

Araujo is on hand to intercept but the young Uruguayan goes down after falling badly. Looks to have twisted his ankle.  

Puig breaks but the young Catalan player almost collides into the referee but Barcelona regain possession and Betis break through Emerson. 

Good work from Alex Moreno as he fires a ball across the Barcelona box looking for Iglesias.

Long ball looking for Juanmi but the former R.Sociedad (and Southampton) man unable to latch on to the drive.

All set in Seville.... a mouth watering prospect in store featuring two of the most offensive sides in LaLiga as Betis start

Guardado and Busquets respective captains for tonight's game.

Carlos del Cerro Grande is tonight's match official 

The teams begin their walk down the tunnel at the Estadio Benito Villamarin with kick-off just minutes away. Betis in their iconc green and white stripes. Barcelona too in their azul-grana colours. 

Betis would consolidate seventh place with a win. I do believe 7th place in the table would give access to the new UEFA Conference League ! 

A win for Barcelona would see the Catalan side regain second spot in LaLiga

Another chance tonight for Borja Iglesias to maintain his decent recent form in front of goal with 'El Panda' on target in the cup vs. Real Sociedad and also found the target in the recent league win over Osasuna.

One of the finest currently in LaLiga Sergio Canales is also rested after recent exertion for Betis.

Manuel Pellegrini elects the following starting XI for tonight's clash:

Leo Messi arriving at the Betis stadium earlier this evening. The Argentine starts on the bench for FCB tonight.

Betis too have enjoyed a positive run but were disappointed to exit the Copa del Rey after a penalty shoot-out midweek vs. Athletic Club.

FC Barcelona come into tonight's game in a rich vein of form:

Barça boss offers frank view on packed fixture list

​​​​​​Koeman feels the calendar is "killing the players" and pleaded for help from competition organisers.

"It is difficult," he said. "The number of games that the big teams have, with three competitions, on top of the covid situation, makes everything more difficult.

"You have to talk with the players to see how they are physically, their feelings. Sometimes you have to give someone a rest to be able to have everyone in the best condition.

"If we count tomorrow's game and Wednesday's, there are 12 games in a row, of which 11 are away from home. And that's playing at 21:00, coming home at 03:00 in the morning. It is difficult for the players to be able to play all the time. We need help.

"I hope that one day UEFA or LaLiga will think about the number of games and what this does to the players. It is not normal. The games we've had to play, the trips, the schedules, playing the Supercopa between four teams, in my opinion, is a lot.

Koeman also opts to rest Freinke de Jong and Pedri with a deluge of key games on the horizon for the 'Azulgrana' side

Real Betis have moved up to seventh in the table thanks to victories over Osasuna and Celta Vigo and goals from in-form striker Borja Iglesias and midfield maestro Sergio Canales.

Barça themselves have been on a superb recent run of form, currently on a short list of clubs who remain undefeated in their domestic leagues in 2021. Antoine Griezmann's hot streak has helped the Catalan side to five wins from five in LaLiga since the turn of the year.

Games coming thick and fast for Koeman's men and resting Messi does make sense as a midweek Copa del Rey vs. Sevilla looms next week with the Champions of League vs. PSG also on the horizon. 

Messi rested with the Barcelona XI confirmed: 

Let's bring you the team news for tonight's clash: First up the home side: 

The action at the Estadio Benito Villamarin in the Heliopolis neighbourhood of Seville gets underway at 21:00 CET

FC Barcelona return to Andalucia after their midweek Copa del Rey heroics in Granada as they face Real Betis in LaLiga tonight.