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La Liga | Gameweek 28
Mar 17, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Moron (82')
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Messi (18', 45', 85'), Suarez (63')

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi's stunning record vs. Real Betis

Ahead of Sunday's La Liga clash between Real Betis and leaders Barcelona, Sports Mole examines Lionel Messi's stunning goalscoring record against the hosts.

Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi was back to his brilliant best on Wednesday night as he scored two and assisted two more to fire his side into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is still scoring at an incredible pace of one goal per game on average across all competitions this season, and Real Betis will be the next team in his sights on Sunday.

The La Liga leaders could take another step towards defending their crown with victory at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, although they face a Betis side with lingering aspirations of breaking into the European places.

Betis recorded a famous 4-3 win at Camp Nou in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but to get anything out of Sunday's match they will likely need to subdue the maestro that is Messi.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Argentine has fared against this weekend's opponents in the past.



LMvBET

Just as he has done this season, Messi has averaged a goal per game in his 20 previous meetings with Betis across all competitions, in addition to eight assists.

Sixteen of those goals - and all eight assists - have come in league fixtures between the two sides, and November's meeting was the first time that Messi had ever ended up on the losing side in a top-flight encounter.

The Argentine actually only scored once in his first five games against Betis, and has failed to score in half of the 18 La Liga games, but when he does net he more often than not bags a brace.

Indeed, Messi has scored exactly two goals on seven previous occasions against Saturday's opponents, including in both of the last two games.

However, that brace at the Benito Villamarin last season was only the second game he has scored in at that stadium from seven previous visits, so this weekend's venue is by no means his favourite stomping ground.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
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