Barcelona’s possible line-up for today’s LaLiga matchday-32 game vs Real Betis

The big day should be just around the corner, Barcelona fans. Xavi Hernández’s side hold an 11-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, with 21 left to play for. Should the top two win each of their next few games, the Catalans would wrap up the league title by beating Real Sociedad at Camp Nou on 21 May, their fourth last league fixture of the 2022-23 season. Their recent form suggests, however, that it could be a little more complicated than that…

Barcelona’s poor recent form

Barça head into Saturday’s clash against Real Betis on their worst run of form of the season. They’ve won only one of their last five matches in all competitions, which includes a 4-0 Copa del Rey thrashing by arch-rivals Madrid at Camp Nou. In those games, they have scored only two goals (in their last two outings), the last of which wasn’t enough to prevent a defeat to Rayo Vallecano.

Luckily for Xavi and his side, however, Real Madrid’s minds are elsewhere, which seemed to be proved by their own midweek defeat to Girona. Los Blancos have a Copa del Rey final and a Champions League semi-final against Manchester City on the horizon, which may let Barcelona off the hook, even if their form fails to pick up.

Betis also struggling for victories

In any case, Xavi will, of course, be expecting a huge improvement from his team between now and the season, starting with the clash against Betis, who won 1-0 at Camp Nou last term. The Seville outfit look to be realistically chasing a Europa League spot but have themselves been in poor form recently, also posting one win in their last five matches and only two in their last 10.

Dembélé and Christensen back in the squad

Barça have been handed a huge boost for the match by the return to fitness of winger Ousmane Dembélé, who hasn’t featured since a 1-0 win over Girona on 28 January because of a thigh injury. The Frenchman was one of Catalans’ most dangerous attacking weapons in the first few months of the season and will boost their options in the final third, although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him be eased back into things from the bench against Betis.

Dane Andreas Christensen, who has impressed in central defence this season, is also back in the matchday squad after a month-long absence. Like Dembélé, the former Chelsea man’s return to the starting line-up may not be rushed, with Ronald Araújo and Marcos Alonso likely to start.

What does Xavi do with Gavi?

Sergi Roberto is the only confirmed absentee for the clash, while, with Pedri fit again, Xavi will have to decide whether Gavi plays in a midfield three or takes up a more advanced role on the left.

Barcelona’s possible line-up vs Real Betis:

Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araújo, Alonso, Balde; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Gavi.