Barcelona vs Real Betis
2016/17 Spanish La Liga
Date: Saturday, 20 August, 2016
Kick-off: 17:15 UK.
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona).
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Barcelona locks horns with Real Betis in their first game for the 2016/2017 Spanish La Liga season.
Barcelona have already started their season by winning the Spanish Super Cup with a 5-0 aggregate win over two legs of football with FC Sevilla. Luis Enrique’s men enjoyed a comfortable ride over the two legs winning away leg 2-0 and the home 3-0. Going into the new season,
Luis Enrique has made some decent additions to an already strong squad. Lucas Digne from PSG, Andre Gomes from Benfica and Samuel Umtiti from Olympique Lyon are the two new fresh faces for the 2016/17 season. While Blaugrana youth product Denis Suarez has been re-signed from Villarreal.
Real Betis will be going into the new season under the wings of a new boss in Gus Poyet. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur man replaced caretaker manager Juan Merino in May. They were 10th in the standings last season and they will hoping for a much better campaign this term.
Going into the 2016/2017 season, Real Betis added 12 new players to their squad. Antonio Sanabria of AS Roma, who spend last season on loan at fellow La Liga side Sporting Gijon is a welcome addition to cover the gap left by the departure of start man Nolito. While Chelsea youngster Charly Musonda has extended his loan deal with Betis for another season.
Barcelona vs Real Betis: Key Facts
Barcelona have won in 9 of the last 11 home matches in La Liga, losing twice.
Real Betis have failed to win in their last 5 away league games. Also, they have only 1 win to show from the last 12 away games in La Liga.
Barcelona: Team News
Luis will be the services German goal keeper Ter Stegen due to knee injury. While Iniesta, Mascherano and Mattieu are major doubts after picking up knocks in the Super Cup clash with Sevilla.
Neymar and Rafinha are still away with the Brazil Olympics football team at Rio.
The new signings Lucas Digne and Samuel Umtiti are set for their La Liga debuts for Barcelona on Saturday’s clash against Real Betis. While fellow new signing Andre Gomes will sit out of this match due to suspension.
Barcelona: Predicted Line-Up (4-3-3)
Bravo – Digne, Umtiti, Pique, Alba – Rakitic, D.Suarez, Busquets – Turan, Suarez, Messi.
Real Betis Team News
Poyet could be without the services of Rafeal Navarro, and Paraguan forward “Sanabria Antonio” due to Calf and shoulder injury respectively.
Real Betis: Predicted Line-Up (4-3-3)
Adan – Sara, Pezzella, Mandi, Piccini – Petros, Martin, Cejudo – Ceballos, Musonda, Castro.
Barcelona vs Real Betis: Head to Head
Real Betis suffered 6-0 aggregate defeat from the hand of Barcelona last season. The Big Green has failed to nick a point from any encounter with Barcelona in the last 4 years.
Moreover, in the last 10 meeting between this 2 sides Barcelona has 8 victories, Betis has 1, and 1 ended in draw.
Barcelona vs Real Betis: Prediction
Barcelona will be going to into the match high on emotion after winning the Super Cup. They have a long running superior record against Betis. Also they are unbeaten in the last 15 home matches against Betis.
Real Betis had a good pre-season, but had struggled in recent away games in the league. With all honesty, it is a difficult fixture for them and expect not to trouble the home side by any means.
Therefore, Barcelona should be seeing Betis off comfortably on Saturday with a win by 2 margin at the least.
Barcelona vs Real Betis: Bet Tips
Handicap Barcelona -1 at 1.28
Suarez to score any-time at 1.30.
