MX23RW : Tuesday, March 11 02:44:02| >> :120:3952:3952:
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
1Barcelona26183571254657
2Real Madrid27176457263157
3Atletico MadridAtletico27168344182656
4Athletic Bilbao271310445242149
5Villarreal26128648361244
6Real BetisBetis2711883533241
7Mallorca27107102633-737
8Rayo Vallecano279992929036
9Celta Vigo27106114041-136
10Sevilla279993236-436
11Real Sociedad27104132328-534
12Getafe2789102322133
13GironaGirona2796123540-533
14Osasuna2671273237-533
15Espanyol2677122537-1228
16Valencia2769123045-1527
17Leganes2769122440-1627
18AlavesAlaves2768133040-1026
19Las PalmasLas Palmas2766153045-1524
20Real ValladolidValladolid2744191862-4416


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