Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of the La Liga clash between Real Betis and Barcelona from Seville.
Betis beat Leganes 3-2 on Monday night to make it three victories in their last four in the top flight, with that run of form leaving them in ninth spot.
Barcelona, meanwhile, came from behind to overcome Real Sociedad last weekend as the league leaders continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Stay tuned for our live minute-by-minute coverage of the action.
6.46pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from Seville as Real Betis welcome league leaders Barcelona. Betis have been involved in some cracking matches this season, and this should be an interesting game against Ernesto Valverde's table-toppers. Anyone for a 5-5? Stay tuned!
6.49pmBarcelona recorded a 2-0 win over Betis at Camp Nou on the opening weekend of the season, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when the pair locked horns in this stadium last term. That said, Betis have not actually beaten Barcelona in the league since March 2008, which is an indication of the task facing the home side tonight. It should be a brilliant game of football from Seville.
6.52pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from Andalusia. Betis have had a free week to prepare for this match, but Barcelona were in Copa del Rey action on Wednesday night – losing 1-0 at Espanyol in the first leg of their quarter-final.
6.55pmTEAMS!
BETIS: Adan; Francis, Mandi, Feddal, Durmisi; Garcia, Fabian, Guardado; Tello, Leon, Joaquin
BARCA: Ter Stegen; Semedo, Pique, Vermaelen, Alba; Busquets, Rakitic, Roberto, Gomes; Messi, Suarez
6.58pm
📍 Benito Villamarín
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2018
🔥 All set for #BetisBarça
💪 Let's go lads!
🔵🔴 Força Barça! pic.twitter.com/JwPwDilKNF
7.02pmBetis welcome centre-backs Zouhair Feddal and Aissa Mandi back from suspension, while Cristian Tello will line up against the club that he left last summer. Joel Campbell and Antonio Sanabria both miss out through injury, however, meaning that Joaquin joins Tello and Sergio Leon in the final third. Javi Garcia is preferred to Ryad Boudebouz alongside Fabian Ruiz and Andres Guardado in midfield.
7.05pmAs for Barcelona, neither Paulinho nor Andres Iniesta are deemed fit enough to start, meaning that Sergi Roberto and Andre Gomes are given midfield spots. Ruben Semedo comes into right-back, but fit-again Samuel Umtiti is only on the bench. Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi will again play as a front two with Ousmane Dembele and January signing Philippe Coutinho both on the sidelines.
7.08pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff in Seville. I shall speak about the home side a little bit later, but let's start with Barcelona. It did appear that the Catalan outfit would lose for the first time in La Liga this season when they fell 2-0 behind to Real Sociedad last weekend at the Anoeta – a stadium where they had not won in the league since 2007.
7.12pm
⚽️⚽️⚽️
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) January 21, 2018
3️⃣ great goals against Betis!
🔵🔴 #ForçaBarça pic.twitter.com/9o39DS8QLi
7.15pmThe league leaders stormed back to record a 4-2 victory, however, as they moved further clear at the summit. Barcelona have now won 16 and drawn three of their 19 league fixtures this season, with that run of form bringing 51 points. They are currently eight points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid with a game in hand, and 16 clear of the reigning champions Real Madrid.
7.18pmBarcelona, however, will tonight be looking to bounce back from their first defeat since August. Indeed, a late goal from Oscar Melendo saw Espanyol record a 1-0 win over their bitter rivals in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final on Wednesday night. It was certainly a shock to the system, but they will have the chance to turn that tie around in the second leg at Camp Nou next week.
7.22pmIn terms of what is ahead for Barcelona; as mentioned, they will welcome Espanyol for the second leg of their Copa del Rey quarter-final next week, before hosting struggling Alaves in the league. They will then visit Espanyol in the league towards the start of next month. The Champions League also resumes in February, with Barcelona taking on English champions Chelsea in the round of 16.
7.25pm
13 - Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 13 La Liga matches against Betis (W10 D3), their last defeat against them coming back in March 2008 (2-3). Memory. pic.twitter.com/lZMtiTNtf7
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 21, 2018
7.28pmBetis, however, will be confident of harming Barcelona tonight. Quique Setien's side have been the entertainers of the top flight this season. They have won 5-3 against Sevilla and 3-2 against Leganes in their last two league matches, with back-to-back victories seeing them occupy 10th position in the table - just one point off seventh-placed Celta Vigo as things stand.
7.32pmBetis are only five points off sixth-placed Sevilla, and entering this round of matches, only Barcelona (52) and Valencia (40) had scored more goals than Betis (33) in the league this term. That said, Betis have shipped 36 goals down the other end, which is among the worst defensive records in the league. One thing is for certain, the hosts will not attempt to play out a 0-0 tonight.
7.35pmThat said, Betis have only won one of their last six home league matches, and Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have both stopped the Seville club from scoring on home soil in recent weeks. Barcelona are the favourites for a reason, and they could have a lot of joy against a leaky defence tonight.
7.38pm
¡Salta a calentar el Real Betis! 😃🏋🏻💚#DíaDeBetis #RealBetisBarça pic.twitter.com/SlMcxtZWPC
— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis) January 21, 2018
7.42pmSince returning to La Liga for the 2015-16 campaign, Betis have finished 10th and 15th in the top flight. They are on course to better both of those finishes this term, and will have their eye on their highest finish since the 2004-05 campaign, which brought fourth. Right, the time for talking is almost over. It is free-scoring Betis against the league leaders Barcelona in Seville, and kickoff is next!
0 minKICKOFF! Betis kick things off in Seville...
2 min... it must be said that there is a stunning atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. Betis are on the front foot from the first whistle as Joaquin breaks down the right, but Alba is across to close the space.
4 minVery interesting to see Gomes in the Barcelona XI once again tonight. The Portugal international has started on the left, with Roberto on the opposite side. Both teams are desperate for possession, but it is Betis that have had most of the ball in the first four minutes of this match.
4 minCLOSE! Guardado just misses the Barcelona post with a strike from distance!
6 minBetis are attempting to play on the front foot here, but Barcelona have just managed to settle on the ball in the last couple of minutes. It really is a fascinating battle at the moment.
8 minHalf-chance for the home side as Joaquin delivers a dangerous corner towards Leon, but the forward turns wide of the near post. Nothing much from Barcelona going forward thus far here.
10 minEnd-to-end football in the last couple of minutes as both teams commit players in the final third of the field. You just get the feeling that the first goal tonight - if there indeed is one - could be vital.
12 minLeon has the chance to find Tello inside the Barcelona box, but Pique is on hand to make a very important block. Joaquin then sweeps over the away side's crossbar from outside the box.
14 minSpell of possession for Barcelona as the league leaders look to quieten this stadium. We have not seen too much from Messi or Luis Suarez in the first 14 minutes of this match it must be said.
14 minSemedo fires over the Betis crossbar from distance.
16 minGomes releases Alba down the left as Barcelona look to catch Betis out wide, but the full-back sees his cross blocked. Luis Suarez then smashes into the body of Durmisi over the other side.
18 minNot an awful lot to report in the last couple of minutes as both teams share possession of the football. We are yet to have a clear chance with 18 minutes now on the clock in Seville.
21 minBOOKING! Gomes (Barcelona) is booked for elbowing Francis.
23 minNot a whole lot to report at the moment as both teams continue to struggle for that final pass. It has become a little bit scrappy as Messi and Luis Suarez are both felled in separate attacks.
25 minAlba breaks into a dangerous position down the left, but Adan manages to gather the left-back's cross at the second time of asking. Betis' high defensive line was caught out there!
26 minCHANCE! Best chance of the match for Barcelona as Luis Suarez feeds Roberto inside the Betis box, but the Spaniard can only lift the ball over the crossbar from close range!
27 minSAVE! Adan does well to hold onto a powerful strike from Rakitic.
30 minCLOSE! Messi hits the side-netting from a narrow angle as Barcelona continue to move the ball in the final third. It was a super pass from Luis Suarez that released the Argentine.
32 minBarcelona have quietened the stadium as they enjoy a lot of the ball in the final third.
34 minGomes attempts to slide a pass into Alba once again, but Francis is across to make the clearance. Not an awful lot happening at the moment as Betis continue to defend well on home soil.
36 minNot much for the Betis supporters to get excited about at the moment as Barcelona continue to look the more likely to make the breakthrough. Rakitic breaks into a dangerous area before firing wide, but the whistle had already been blown as Gomes pulled Francis to the deck.
39 minHalf-chance for the home side as Tello breaks into a dangerous area down the right, but the former Barcelona attacker cannot find Leon, with Ter Stegen out to make a strong claim.
40 minVermaelen hits the deck for Barcelona, and Umtiti has been sent to warm up here.
42 minVermaelen heads down the tunnel - that is the end of the centre-back's night. Umtiti, who has just returned from injury, will take to the field in the next minute or so. For now, Busquets goes to centre-back.
43 minBARCELONA SUB! Umtiti enters the field in place of Vermaelen.
45 minAdan just beats Gomes to the ball after Messi had looked to release the Portugal international.
45+1 minWe are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
45+2 minComfortable save for Adan to keep out a long-range Busquets effort.
45+3 minHALF-TIME: Betis 0-0 Barcelona
8.33pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Not quite the all-action half of football that was predicted, but it has been a good watch. Both teams have had a couple of half-chances, and it has been a very even contest in Seville.
8.38pmSTATISTICS! Barcelona shaded the first-half possession with 57%, while the visitors had five attempts - two of which were on target. Betis, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their four attempts. Just the one yellow card - Gomes in the 21st minute for a perceived elbow on Francis.
8.43pmBENCH WATCH! Barcelona have already been forced into a change tonight, with fit-again Umtiti replacing Vermaelen, who limped off the field with what looked to be a hamstring problem. Paulinho, Alena, Deulofeu and Vidal are among those still available for the visitors. Betis, meanwhile, have attacking options in the shape of Boudebouz, Camarasa, Castro and Tosca.
46 minRESTART! Barcelona resume the action here...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period gathers pace here.
49 minYou do get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - could be crucial in this match. Not many would have predicted 0-0, and I would still be very surprised if this game finished as it is.
51 minGood pressure from Betis in the last couple of minutes, but Durmisi cannot find a teammate with a cross from the left, before Tello over-hits the ball for Leon. Good work from the home side here.
51 minBOOKING! Durmisi (Betis) is booked for hauling Roberto to the deck.
53 minMessi is coming deeper and deeper in a bid to get on the ball, but Betis are defending very well. You do get the feeling that space will open as the minutes continue to tick on though.
55 minBetis have all bases covered at the moment as Barcelona are left frustrated.
57 minSuper defending from Semedo once again as the full-back manages to deny Tello in a one-on-one. Semedo's pace is absolutely incredible. He is a bullet across the ground. So is Tello, mind.
58 minSAVE! Ter Stegen is down to keep out a strike from Ruiz!
59 minGOAL! Betis 0-1 Barcelona (Rakitic)
60 minBarcelona make the breakthrough just before the hour as Luis Suarez releases Rakitic, and the former Sevilla captain slides the ball under the onrushing Adan. Big moment in this game!
62 minPaulinho was about to enter the field moments before Rakitic had sent Barcelona ahead. Paulinho is now back on the bench as Valverde decides what to do next. Betis have to respond here.
64 minGOAL! Betis 0-2 Barcelona (Messi)
65 minBarcelona double their lead in the 64th minute as Messi collects a smart pass from Busquets before spinning and finding the back of the net with a super finish!
65 minBARCELONA SUB! Paulinho replaces Gomes for the away side.
67 minBOOKINGS! Feddal (Betis) and L.Suarez (Barcelona) are booked following a tangle.
69 minGOAL! Betis 0-3 Barcelona (Luis Suarez)
70 minOh my word. Barcelona score their third of the night as Luis Suarez volleys a wonderful Rakitic cross into the back of the net. It is another excellent finish from the Uruguay international.
72 minBetis cannot keep hold of the ball at the moment as Barcelona continue to dominate.
73 minBETIS SUB! Castro replaces Leon for the home side.
75 minPossession football from Barcelona as they pass and probe in the final third of the field.
76 minMessi fires over the Betis crossbar after breaking into the home side's box.
77 minBETIS SUB! Garcia is replaced by Boudebouz for the home side.
79 minLittle over 10 minutes of football remaining, and Betis are not giving up. The home supporters have stayed with them, which is not a surprise. This really is a wonderful place to play your football.
80 minGOAL! Betis 0-4 Barcelona (Messi)
81 minIt is four for Barcelona as Messi, who has his second, robs Feddal of the ball before dancing into a shooting position. As expected, the Argentine slides the ball calmly into the back of the net.
81 minBARCELONA SUB! Deulofeu replaces Busquets for the away side.
83 minCHANCE! Deulofeu has a super chance to make it five as Roberto wins a header at the far post, but the winger cannot make contact. Betis are simply all over the place at the back here.
85 minSAVE! Paulinho finds the gloves of Adan after excellent Messi skill.
87 minBit of possession for Betis in the final third, but Alba is across to clear Joaquin's loose cross.
89 minBETIS SUB! Camarasa replaces Fabian for the home side.
89 minGOAL! Betis 0-5 Barcelona (Luis Suarez)
90 minIt is five for Barcelona as Messi drives towards the Betis box before feeding Luis Suarez, who expertly finds the top corner. It is another excellent goal from the away side here.
90+2 minFULL-TIME: Betis 0-5 Barcelona
9.36pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Barcelona recording a 5-0 win over Betis as the league leaders move 11 points clear at the summit. What a second-half performance. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again!
