Barcelona vs Real Betis Prediction: Barca to complete perfect home season in La Liga

Barcelona can no longer become only the third team to reach 100 points in La Liga, after a 1-0 defeat against Alavés in midweek. However, they can become the first club in 40 years to finish a Spanish top-flight campaign with a 100% home record by beating Real Betis at Camp Nou on Sunday (20:00 BST, Premier Sports 1).

Our Spanish Football expert previews the action and gives us his top two Barcelona vs Real Betis predictions plus all the team news, predicted line-ups and stats...

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Victory over Real Betis on Sunday would complete that feat in a season when they have played at three separate home grounds. Barça moved back to a rebuilt Camp Nou in November, and have won every fixture in front of their own fans since then, with the notable exception of their Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atlético Madrid.

Defeats against Los Rojiblancos in that competition and in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey have been the only major disappointments in another impressive campaign for Hansi Flick and his team.

Barça clinched the title with what was a fairly routine 2-0 victory in El Clásico last weekend. Early goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres ensured crisis-hit Real Madrid were brushed aside. The Catalan giants continued the celebrations on Monday with an open-top bus parade through the streets of Barcelona.

It’s therefore perhaps no surprise that they dropped points for only the sixth time this season with a 1-0 defeat away to a motivated Alavés side on Wednesday. The Basques were fighting for their lives, and despite having only 23% of the possession, Quique Sánchez Flores’ team stifled a much-changed Barça, who failed to register a single shot on target.

This weekend, it’s opponents Real Betis who may be recovering from one or two hangovers. The Andalusians clinched Champions League qualification for the first time in more than two decades with a 2-1 victory over Elche in midweek.

Manuel Pellegrini is now six years into his reign, which makes this the longest stint of the Chilean’s long managerial career. His side have at times faced criticism this term for not delivering on their potential, but they’ve ultimately benefitted from the additional Champions League place awarded to Spain.

In a league where only six teams have reached 50 points, it hasn’t needed a great effort for Betis to seal a return to Europe’s top table. There are defensive flaws that they’ll need to rectify in the transfer market if they want to be competitive on the continental stage next term, but their attack has certainly been firing of late.

With Antony and Ez Abde delivering on the flanks, and Cucho Hernández in good form up top, Betis have gone seven matches without a defeat in La Liga. That run saw them edge clear of Celta Vigo and seal a fifth-place finish.

On a weekend when virtually every team in the Spanish top flight is either competing for relegation or fighting for a European place, this is the only dead rubber. Nothing will change in terms of league positions as a result of this game, but it should still be a watchable affair, between two technically-gifted sides.

*You can check out all of our Football Odds over on betfred.com

Team News

After resting his regulars in the Basque Country on Wednesday, the expectation is that Flick will field a stronger lineup this weekend. That could mean returns for the likes of Pedri, Joan Garcia and Fermín López.

Raphinha is also available again following suspension, but Lamine Yamal remains sidelined. Frenkie de Jong has picked up a fresh injury, while Rashford is an additional fitness doubt for what could be his final home Barcelona appearance.

As for Real Betis, they may opt for fresh legs after clinching Champions League football in midweek. Pellegrini will need to make at least two changes in any case, given both Cucho and centre-back Diego Llorente are suspended.

The 72-year-old will also have to cope without the injured quartet of Marc Bartra, Aitor Ruibal, Ángel Ortiz and Sergi Altimira.

Barcelona vs Real Betis Odds

Barcelona are the 1/3 favourites to win the game. You can back the Draw at 9/2, while Betis are on offer at 13/2 to cause an upset at Camp Nou.

If you’re expecting a strong response from the hosts after their midweek defeat, the Catalans are priced at 6/5 to win a contest with over 3.5 goals. You can also back Flick’s men to win to nil at 13/8.

Alternatively, Real Betis are on offer at 12/5 to win either half. The visitors are priced at 9/4 to score over 1.5 goals, while Both teams to score is available at 4/7.

This will be the last home game for Robert Lewandowski as a Barcelona player, after the legendary striker confirmed his summer departure on Saturday. You can back the 37-year-old to score first at 3/1, while he’s priced at 8/13 to score anytime.

You can also back Ferran, who may be used out wide, to get on the scoresheet at 4/5, while Betis striker Cédric Bakambu is on offer at 5/2.

Result after 30 minutes - Barcelona @ 21/20

Barcelona took only 17 minutes to work up a 2-0 advantage against Real Madrid in their last home outing. I’m expecting a much stronger lineup and a much fresher Barça than the one we saw in Vitoria four days ago. They ought to start quickly against what’s likely to be a rotated Betis side.

The hosts have netted 19 times in the opening 30 minutes at home in La Liga this season, conceding on only three occasions in that time period. The chance to finish with a 100% record in front of their own fans will be a source of motivation. They can also take confidence from the four first-half goals they scored against Betis in the reverse fixture in Seville in December.

Given that, I’m backing Barcelona to be ahead after 30 minutes at odds of 11/10.

Barcelona -1.00 Handicap @ 5/6

Even within their own fanbase, there is plenty of debate around just how strong this Real Betis side is. The suspicion is that they’ve benefitted from a league that lacks depth, and have clinched the fifth Champions League place almost by default, despite not playing brilliantly for much of the campaign.

Against the top clubs, they have frequently been found out. Across all competitions, they have already conceded five goals against each of Spain’s 'big three' this term. Their woeful collapse from 2-0 up to lose 4-2 at home to Braga in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final is also tough to overlook.

With some key players expected to be rested at Camp Nou, they may struggle to compete with the champions, and I’m backing Barcelona -1.00 Handicap at 5/6.

You can check out Mark's Football Betting Tips along with those from the rest of the Betfred Insights Spanish Football writers on our La Liga home page...

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