Betis seeks its best start against Lewandowski's Barça

Betis seeks its best start against Lewandowski's Barça

Faces are seen after the Super Cup 'semi' (2-2) that the 'culés' won on penalties

BARCELONA, 31 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Real Betis receives FC Barcelona this Wednesday at the Benito Villamarín Stadium (9:00 p.m.) in a match corresponding to day 17 of LaLiga Santander, once postponed due to the dispute over the Spanish Super Cup, wanting revenge and a record in the Verdiblanco team and hopes of reinforcing the lead by the blaugranas.

Precisely, Betis and Barça saw the cups in the semifinal of the Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, in a match that went to extra time (2-2) and was decided in a penalty shootout in favor of Barça, which would end up lifting the title by beating Real Madrid in the final.

A duel that will be present in this league game, on both sides. Betis believes, according to Manuel Pellegrini's statements in the preview, that if they play the same they will be on the right track. At Barça, for their part, they will use this recent precedent to come out plugged in and aware of the difficulty it will have to score, let alone win.

Betis also seeks to repeat the best first round of the century. With a win against Barça, they can equal the 34 points scored by Pepe Mel's team in the 2012/13 season and surpass the 33 from last year, already with the Chilean Pellegrini on the bench.

A sweet and appetizing goal, as would also be the revenge of that Super Cup, even if the defeat was not in regulation time or overtime. But it is true that Barça kept them from a possible title, and from being able to round out having won the Copa del Rey the previous year.

Last year, the Catalans attacked Villamarín (1-2) with difficulties and lost at the Camp Nou (0-1). So the equality seen in the Super Cup comes from yesteryear and could be repeated again, in a duel in which both play a lot.

On the local side, Real Betis wants to continue the path begun in Getafe (0-1, goal by Borja Iglesias from a penalty in minute 86) and forget the setback at home to RCD Espanyol. Now, the béticos are sixth but winning they would put themselves in fourth place, of 'Champions', tied with Atlético de Madrid on 34 points.

Barça is looking for a victory that puts more pressure on its immediate rival, Real Madrid, who will play on Thursday against a Valencia that is in low hours, without a coach --after the departure of Gattuso-- and who they already won in the Super Cup . If the blaugrana knock down Betis, they would go to sleep with an 8-point margin over their eternal rival.

Facing the duel against Barça, Pellegrini has all the players available except for Loren Morón, who is heading to Las Palmas on loan, and Paul Akoukou who did not train on Tuesday and is in a possible exit situation. Diego Lainez is no longer in the club either, on loan to the Club Tigres of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León.

Barça is already winter champion, but wants to reinforce that honorary title. In recent years, the League champion has rarely been a team other than the one that dominated at the end of the first round. Of course, Barça lost the title three times in the second part of the tournament. Hence, adding the maximum points at Benito Villamarín is the goal.

At the moment, the possible bump that some sensed due to the sanctions of Robert Lewandowski, above all, and Ferran Torres was not like that. Barça ended the three days without the Polish striker with three victories, although in binary code; all by the minimum and 1-0 against Atlético de Madrid, Getafe and Girona.

So now that 'Lewangol' is recovering after his three-game suspension --for his expulsion against Osasuna (and gesture towards the referee)--, with his 13 goals in 15 games and being LaLiga's 'Pichichi' despite his absent, Barça hopes to leave behind this 'resultadismo' and the offensive shortage. Although, the important thing is to continue winning even by the minimum.

Xavi also recovers Ferran Torres for this match in Seville, who leaves behind his two suspension duels for his Greco-Roman battle with Savic in the match against Atlético. Although the Valencian could continue on the bench, with Pedri being a false left winger or with Ansu Fati still starting, together with the Pole and, in principle, Raphinha on the right.

Against Girona, with victory in Montilivi in ​​the Catalan derby, and also against Getafe Xavi opted for Raphinha and Ansu Fati. Against Atlético he tried Pedri, now a centenary with the Blaugrana club and with more and more goals, as a false winger. Always, yes, with Ousmane Dembélé in the starting eleven. Now, he will be the great absentee.

And it is that the Frenchman broke in Girona and could be out of the team for a month. It is the first injury that he has suffered since the arrival of Xavi and it comes at the worst moment, as it coincides with a sweet state of form. The Frenchman was being key, playing with confidence and providing goals and assists. In Heliopolis, it will undoubtedly be a great loss.

REAL BETS: Rui Silva; Sabaly, Luiz Felipe, Pezzella, Miranda; William Carvalho, Guido; Fekir, Channels, Louis Henry; and Borja Churches.

FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Jordi Alba; Busquets, De Jong, Gavi; Raphinha, Lewandowski and Pedri.

--REFEREE: De Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco).

--STADIUM: Benito Villamarín Stadium.

--TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.