Barcelona are ready to face Real Betis on Sunday in a La Liga encounter.
Hansi Flick’s men will be looking to bounce back after their recent loss and will look to win their final home match of this season, making it 19 wins out of 19 matches.
Barcelona vs Real Betis – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 17th May.
- Kick-off: 8:15pm BST.
- Venue: Camp Nou.
Barcelona team news
Barcelona approach their Matchday 37 fixture against Real Betis with a largely healthy squad, though manager Hansi Flick must navigate a few significant absences.
Midfielder Frenkie de Jong has officially been ruled out after failing to recover from an illness in time for the clash.
Additionally, Lamine Yamal remains sidelined with a long-term hamstring injury, keeping him out of action for the final stretch of the domestic campaign.
Flick also faces an anxious wait over Marcus Rashford, who is a major doubt and must pass a late fitness test after picking up a minor knock.
On a positive note, the Catalan giants welcome back Raphinha, who is fully available after serving a one-game suspension.
Defensively, Andreas Christensen has successfully recovered from a calf injury and is expected to feature from the bench, boosting Barcelona’s options as they aim to protect their flawless home record.
Robert Lewandowski is also set to play his last home games for Barcelona as his exit is confirmed after the end of this season.
Real Betis team news
Real Betis boss Manuel Pellegrini faces a massive selection crisis ahead of the trip to Spotify Camp Nou, missing several core starters due to injuries and disciplinary issues.
Diego Llorente and midweek goalscorer Cucho Hernández are both serving automatic one-match suspensions for yellow card accumulation.
Further complicating matters, Marc Bartra is out with a foot injury, Aitor Ruibal remains sidelined with a knee issue, and Sergi Altimira is completely ruled out.
Youngster Ángel Ortiz is also heavily doubted as he continues to recover from a lingering muscle complaint.
In a bright spot for the visitors, former Barcelona winger Abde Ezzalzouli is fully fit and expected to lead the attack.
Ezzalzouli enters the match in spectacular form, having registered seven goal contributions in his last seven games, and will bear the creative burden for the visitors.
Form
Barcelona
Barcelona have been imperious this season, recently clinching their 29th La Liga title with a resounding 2-0 El Clásico victory over Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou. Hansi Flick’s side has maintained a flawless 100% home record in the league, winning all 18 home matches.
Their spectacular winning streak was snapped by a narrow 1-0 midweek defeat at Deportivo Alavés.
Real Betis
Real Betis travel to Catalonia in strong, resilient form, boasting a five-match unbeaten run that includes three wins and two draws. Manuel Pellegrini’s side recently secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Elche to officially lock in a fifth-place finish, securing a historic Champions League qualification spot for the first time in 20 years. They have lost just once in their last nine games, showing great defensive stability.
Predicted lineups
Barcelona: J Garcia; E Garcia, Araujo, Martin, Cancelo; Pedri, Bernal; Fermin, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Betis: Lopez; Bellerin, Natan, Gomez, Rodriguez; Altimira, Roca; Antony, Fidalgo, Ezzalzouli; Bakambu
How to watch Barcelona vs Real Betis?
The Barcelona vs. Real Betis match is broadcast live in the UK on Premier Sports 1, with coverage also available online via the Premier Sports Player.
Read Also – Wolves vs Fulham – Match preview and team news
See More – Real Madrid XI vs Sevilla – Predicted lineup and team news
Follow the Football Faithful on Social Media:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube
