Barcelona had to struggle for victory against a hard-fighting Betis team. Midway through the second half, it was Raphinha who scored the important 1-0 goal. Robert Lewandowski made it 2-0, but a late own goal from Jules Koundé ensured tension.
The Catalans managed to secure the victory after a few slightly nervous final minutes.
The hard-fought victory comes the day after what was a quiet Deadline Day in the big club. TV 2 expert Simen Stamsø-Møller thinks it was sensible.
– I don’t think it’s half-baked. It is a sign of good health that they do not do anything hastily on the last day of the market, says Stamsø-Møller.
– We are still waiting for Raphinha to strike. It’s a bit the same with Ansu Fati too. There are players that are missing a bit right now. When Dembélé is out, these can flourish. That is probably what Xavi is hoping for as well.
And it was precisely the summer’s big purchase from Leeds who scored Barca’s first of the evening.
After 64 minutes, Raphinha was in the right place in the box. Barcelona took a quick free kick. Alejandro Balde came at full speed down the left before hitting a low, hard cross towards the back post. There, Raphinha wide-sided the ball into the goal from short range.
– He has achieved zero and nothing before this, said expert commentator Stamsø-Møller.
– It was difficult to imagine that it would be a positive experience for Raphinha after 50 minutes, but it was nonetheless.
After 79 minutes, Robert Lewandowski made it 2-0. The Pole was alert after a corner which was headed on by Ronald Araújo.
– Merciless Lewandowski. He marks that he is back, said TV 2 commentator Endre Olav Osnes.
– The way Barcelona have taken the sting out of Betis after 1-0 is so controlled and elegant.
Clumsy own goals
But the battle was far from over. Because with five minutes to go, there was new drama in Seville. Joules Koundé was unable to clear a Betis cross, and the defender ended up clumsily putting the ball into his own goal.
– He is primarily unlucky there in Koundé, said Osnes.
Just after the reduction, Betis came very close to scoring a quick equaliser, but this time the margins were on Barcelona’s side. The visitors could thus celebrate three new points. The team now leads by eight points to Real Madrid, but the capital club has one game less played.
– What a season they have had. There was a bit of tension, but there was a class difference anyway, says Stamsø-Møller.
After the match, Betis’ William Carvalho received the red card after slapping his lip at the refereeing team.
Real Madrid face Valencia on Thursday night. You can watch it on TV 2 Sport Premium and Play from 20.45.
