MX23RW : Thursday, December 12 08:28:17| >> :60:2001:2001:
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
1Barcelona17122350193138
2Real Madrid16113234132136
3Atletico MadridAtletico16105130111935
4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
5Villarreal157532725226
6Real Sociedad167361611524
7Osasuna166642225-324
8Mallorca177371620-424
9GironaGirona166462223-122
10Celta Vigo166372527-221
11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
12Rayo Vallecano155461516-119
13Sevilla165471723-619
14Las PalmasLas Palmas165382227-518
15Getafe163761113-216
16AlavesAlaves164391827-915
17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


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