MX23RW : Sunday, February 2 13:58:18| >> :60:851:851:
Barcelona logo
La Liga
May 5, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
Real Betis logo

4-2

Villa (56'), Sánchez (9'), Messi (60', 71')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Pérez (43'), Pabon (2')

Preview: Barcelona vs. Real Betis

Preview: Barcelona vs. Real Betis
© AP Photos
Barcelona look to bounce back from their Champions League semi-final exit with a win in La Liga over Real Betis this Sunday.

Barcelona will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing exit from the Champions League when they take on Real Betis in La Liga on Sunday.

Tito Vilanova's side crashed out of the premier European tournament following a 3-0 home defeat to Bayern Munich at Camp Nou, as they lost the semi-final tie 7-0 on aggregate.

However, they will now their attentions back to La Liga, where they will look to continue their dominance at the top of the table against Betis.

Pep Mel's side are also hoping to push themselves into contention for a Europa League place as they are currently seventh in the table, just four points behind sixth-place Valencia and fifth-place Malaga.

Barcelona are in great form in the league and have lost once in their last eight games - that loss came against Real Madrid. Since then, they've taken 17 points from a possible 21.

Betis, meanwhile, are struggling for form in the league and have won just once in their last six matches, with that victory coming against Granada three weeks ago.

Lionel Messi's injury prevented him from starting against Bayern, but he could come into contention for the game with Betis.

Sergio Busquets could also miss out along with injury victims Carlos Puyol and Javier Mascherano. Jordi Alba should return after missing the clash with Bayern.

Betis could name an unchanged side from the team that drew with Deportivo La Coruna for the trip to Camp Nou, with now new injury worries present in Mel's squad.

Recent form

Barcelona: WDWWWD

Betis: LDWDLD

Possible starting lineups

Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Pique, Abidal, Alba, Iniesta, Song, Xavi, Pedro, Villa, Sanchez.

Betis: Adrian, Torres, Amaya, Perquis, Nacho, Alvaro, Benat, Campbell, Canas, Molina, Ruben Castro.

Sports Mole says: 3-0


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Written by
Simon Sinclair

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FC Barcelona midfielder Xavi during a press conference on April 22, 2013
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid22154350212949
2Atletico MadridAtletico22146237142348
3Barcelona21133559243542
4Athletic Bilbao21117331181340
5Villarreal22107544331137
6Rayo Vallecano228862624232
7Mallorca2293101928-930
8GironaGirona218492929028
9Real Sociedad218491717028
10Real BetisBetis217772326-328
11Sevilla227782430-628
12Osasuna216962530-527
13Celta Vigo2174103033-325
14Getafe225981717024
15Las PalmasLas Palmas2165102634-823
16Leganes225891930-1123
17Espanyol2265112133-1223
18AlavesAlaves2156102533-821
19Valencia2137112036-1616
20Real ValladolidValladolid2243151547-3215


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