Barcelona faced a challenging match against Real Betis, ending in a 2-2 draw. Coach Hansi Flick received a red card for protesting a penalty awarded to Betis after Vitor Roque went down in the box following contact with Frenkie de Jong. Giovani Lo Celso successfully converted the penalty in the 66th minute, equalizing the score after Robert Lewandowski had initially put Barcelona in the lead with his league-leading 16th goal in the 38th minute.
Ferran Torres managed to score in the 82nd minute, giving Barcelona another lead thanks to a pass from Lamine Yamal. However, injury time saw Assane Diao score for Betis, resulting in shared points.
Flick expressed surprise at his expulsion, noting that he did not think he was particularly aggressive in his protest. He voiced his disappointment, stating it was an unusual experience for him, yet he chose not to critique the referee’s decisions.
This match represents a worrying trend for Barcelona, who have now dropped points in four of their last five matches, following an impressive run of seven consecutive victories. Despite a recent 5-1 win against Mallorca, this draw may signify deeper issues to address ahead of their Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.
Flick acknowledged the struggles of his team, emphasizing the need for quicker passing and caution against relying on long balls. He also justified resting key players ahead of their upcoming fixtures.
In a positive note for Betis, Isco Alarcon made his comeback to the field for the first time since his injury, as a substitute in the late minutes of the game.
To summarize, while Barcelona displayed glimpses of their potential, the inconsistency in their recent performances raises questions about their form as they head into crucial matches. This could serve as a wake-up call for the team to regroup and strengthen their resolve moving forward in La Liga and Europe.