Betis Snatch Late Draw Against Liga Leaders Barca

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Real Betis twice came from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw in a satisfying match on Saturday, leaving La Liga leaders Barcelona with two points in the title race.

Real Madrid, who are second-placed in the standings, will play in Girona on Saturday and have another game in hand. The Catalans are five points clear of Real Madrid.

Assane Diao levelled in the 94th minute to stun Barcelona, who opened the scoring after 39 minutes through Robert Lewandowski.

Ferran Torres struck the game-winning goal from the penalty spot after Giovani Lo Celso had already given the hosts a lead before Diao’s tardive intervention.

“We weren’t able to finish the game when we went ahead and defend the result,” Torres admitted to Movistar.

Hansi Flick, the coach for Barcelona, said his team needed to “improve” on the road, where the majority of their setbacks have occurred this year.

Flick remarked, “We have the quality to win every game, but we also have to show it.”

We must be much stronger than we were in the away games, he said. ”

Real Betis started strongly, with Raphinha forced to clear Diego Llorente’s header off his own goal-line.

Ez Abde, a former Barcelona winger, should have put Betis in front moments later when Inaki Pena made a strong save.

Barcelona started to take control of the game after Betis’ early attacking volley.

The electric Yamal fired off-target from Raphinha’s cross as both wingers threatened, with Betis sitting deep to try and protect themselves.

Shortly before the break, the Catalans made a smart team move to find the breakthrough.

Jules Kounde was teed up by Pedri to cross a low ball that Lewandowski deflected from close range.

It was the 36-year-old striker’s 16th league goal of the campaign, leading the scoring charts in Spain.

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‘Really Disappointed’

Real Betis and FC Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder #16 Sergi Altimira fight for the ball during the Spanish league game between Real Betis and FC Barcelona at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Seville on December 7, 2024. Barcelona’s #19 Lamine Yamal (C) and Real Betis’ #23 Senegalese defender #23 Youssouf Sabaly (L) are at odds with each other. (Photo by CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP)

When Sergi Altimira’s header flew past Pena and also the far post, Betis started the second half in the same manner as they did the first.

As Manuel Pellegrini’s side held on to the lead and eventually equaled with a penalty, Barcelona goalkeeper Pena made a superb save to thwart Chimy Avila.

After a VAR review, the referee awarded the hosts a spot kick and sent off Flick for his protests, after Frenkie de Jong stepped on Vitor Roque’s heel. He was on loan at Betis from Barca.

Both teams aimed to win three points, but Lo Celso buried his penalty to set up a fun finale.

“I’m really disappointed about (my red card), I thought that would never happen to me,” Flick told reporters.

“But here, maybe it’s like that, and I have to accept it.

“It was really only a reaction (for) myself, nothing else — I said nothing to anyone. ”

Barcelona’s winner arrived when 17-year-old starlet Yamal crossed for Torres to turn home, although the strike was initially flagged offside.

Aitor Ruibal was later discovered to be late and had played Torres onside for his second goal in two games.

Barcelona looked to have won it when Diao, left unmarked, made amends for his earlier error by curling home from Ruibal’s cross in stoppage time.

“We lost two points, we didn’t play a good game, we didn’t do everything we needed to bring (the points) home,” Kounde told Barca One, the club’s streaming platform.

Betis coach Pellegrini felt his team, provisionally 11th, could have gone one better.

“I think today we lost two points, we deserved more,” said Pellegrini.

“The performance leaves me very happy, but the result is bitter. ”