Barca want to beat Betis and do it well

Barça do not want to wait any longer to get rid of the bad taste in their mouths from the defeat at Vallecas. On a league title level it had no consequences as Real Madrid had also lost the day before in Girona, so the eleven-point lead was maintained, but the sensations were disastrous.

Xavi himself spoke of the "worst game of the season" and the coach hopes to see against Betis a version more similar to the one that defeated Atlético de Madrid. Barça arrive with Frenkie de Jong and Pedri more experienced and recover Busquets, suspended in Vallecas.

As if that wasn't enough, Christensen and Dembélé are back in the squad, so the player from Terrassa has all the ingredients to make the team recognisable again. Barça want to be in command on the pitch, with their hallmarks of high pressing in the opposition half, precision passing and, above all, more efficiency.

Although the 1-0 scoreline has become the most common result, the Blaugrana coach expects his team to be much more decisive in their finishing after Lewandowski broke his goal drought. The only good news from Vallecas.

As was the case on the previous matchday, Barça will play knowing the result of Real Madrid, who will have played Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu in the afternoon. A priori an affordable match for Los Blancos and it is very likely that the difference before the start of the clash at the Spotify Camp Nou will have been reduced to eight points.

It would be added pressure, although the margin would still be wide, for an FC Barcelona side that has won just one of its last four La Liga games. To the draws against Getafe and Girona, they added defeat against Rayo, although they breathed a sigh of relief with the crucial win over Atletico Madrid.

Once this matchday is over, there will only be six more to go before the end of La Liga. In the worst-case scenario, there would be an eight-point lead with only 18 points at stake. The league should not be in danger, but it would be better to secure the win against Betis and avoid growing uncertainty.

Betis, for their part, are not at their best either. The Andalusians have won just one of their last five games, with defeats to Atletico, Cadiz and Osasuna, a draw against Real Sociedad and the only win against Espanyol.

Manuel Pellegrini's side remain in Europa League places and are determined not to miss out. La Liga is getting tighter as it draws to a close and all the teams have a lot at stake. Barça, no more and no less, than the league.