Real Betis 2-2 FC Barcelona: Late despair

FC Barcelona got here frustratingly near what would have been an eighth consecutive win away to Betis, and the continuation of their return to profitable type that had begun on Tuesday in Mallorca. However a late objective for the house facet meant there may be solely some extent to point out for his or her efforts on a dramatic afternoon in Seville.

The Catalans’ first half lead was cancelled out by a considerably ambiguous penalty resolution that, to make issues worse, additionally meant enjoying the ultimate half hour with solely ten males.

To grab what appeared just like the winner beneath such hostile circumstances was as exhilarating because the give up of these three factors to an harm time equaliser was despairing.

The purpose remains to be sufficient to go away Barça 5 factors away from Actual Madrid and 6 forward of Atlético, however each these sides have two video games in hand. Actual go to Girona later right now, and the mattress-makers host Sevilla on Sunday.

27 passes!

Barça took their time to get off the mark, however there was a transparent sample of occasions main as much as Robert Lewandowski’s thirty ninth minute opener.

Betis appeared full of life early on, with Raphinha and Iñaki Peña coming to the rescue after two notably harmful early possibilities for Betis, the latter for Ez Abde, one among three former blaugrana males within the dwelling facet’s beginning XI.

However Barça quickly settled into the sport, and with that the probabilities began to return. Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo had come closest earlier than a rare sequence of no fewer than 27 passes terminated with ball on the toes of the Polish Pichichi. All Lewandowski needed to do was pop the ball dwelling and begin celebrating his sixteenth objective of the season. And one more help for Jules Kounde’s admirable assortment!

Like the primary half, the second additionally started with a green-and-white cost. After two headers had come worryingly shut, Iñaki Peña produced maybe the best save of his profession to go away Chimy Àvila with nothing to point out for a good chance.

Penalty woe

Barça nonetheless had the lead, but it surely was beginning to look very delicate, and ultimately collapsed when a controversial penalty was awarded towards them simply previous the hour mark.

It was extraordinarily ambiguous whether or not Frenkie de Jong actually did convey down former team-mate Vitor Roque, and it took an eternity for the officers to achieve their conclusion. Ultimately, a crimson card for the Dutchman, plus one other for Hansi Flick for protesting, and an opportunity for Giovani Lo Celso to stage up from the spot. And he did.

Not solely had the momentum swung towards Barça, however they’d be enjoying the ultimate minutes a person down.

Agonising climax

Which made the response all of the extra spectacular. Lamine and Ferran Torres had already come shut with motion that was invalidated for offside anyway once they did so once more. That one was additionally initially disallowed, however VAR overview revealed that Torres had been performed onside and Barça had been again in entrance with simply eight minutes of standard time on the clock.

With solely ten males on the pitch, Barça naturally opted to take a seat again and defend their lead. Sadly, it didn’t work out. 4 minutes into harm time, Assane Diao nicked one again for the Andalusians.

There was no sample to the dying minutes as each side frantically tried all the things to steal a late winner. Neither did and all of it ended 2-2.

Consideration now switches to the midweek journey to Dortmund within the Champions League, whereas La Liga resumes at dwelling to Leganés subsequent Sunday.