By scoring the tying goal in the 94th minute you might think that Betis got a point, and thank you; and so it is if we take into account the result, the aim. But With a broader vision, analyzing the game, the Andalusian team took a deserved point and even fell shortbecause in his good times he had several clear opportunities that he did not convert, while when Barcelona managed to have control, he remained in nothing, remembering last year’s team, somewhat flat and with difficulties in creating danger.
The games happen as they happen, and the rout in Mallorca on Tuesday was unleashed at the end, with the rival already defeated, but the overall performance was average. It was worse at the Benito Villamarín, a talisman stadium for the Blaugrana (they had seven wins in a row), therefore the slump in the game continues. Even Flick showed his nerves, for protesting the penalty that De Jong gave to Vitor Roqueindicated after the review in the VAR. The Dutchman had just come out and was not very successful. He came in for Olmo, who is not fine either and even lost a tooth in a clash with Bartra.
The maximum penalty was converted by Lo Celso, to make it 1-1, in what the green and white team could consider a “finally.” They had started the duel on the attack and in just five minutes, Raphinha already took a ball under the crossbar and Iñaki Peña stopped Abde from going one-on-one. Barça managed to calm the game and have possession, but they couldn’t do anything important with the ball. He only managed it once, a great game, that is, when Pedri accelerated with a first wall to Koundé, so that Lewandowski could solve it.
The leader went to the locker room with a treasure that he failed to keep. Until Lo Celso’s goal from a penalty, the disposition of the Barcelona fans was even worse, unable to escape the pressure, subdued and again saved by Iñaki Peña, who put a spectacular hand on Chimy Ávila’s shot, after a “colada » by Abde. Betis grew and Isco also reappeared seven months later, which made Benito Villamarín crazy.
The first thing the man from Malaga did was an exquisite control, but the one who created the magic was Lamine Yamaloff until then. Just when his team needed him most, all the balls went to him. In that sense, he remembers the first Messi, who was always the emergency solution. He invented a slalom to start in which he surpassed all his rivals, but Ferran Torres was offside when he gave him the pass. The next time, the referee also pointed out an illegal position, but the VAR rectified it and Ferran’s goal was worth it. He dedicated it to the volunteers who have helped with the DANA disaster in Valencia. Flick, who was already in the stands, has clear confidence in his players and the breaks, which is why despite the marking, he had removed some of his best men, such as Lewandowski or Raphinha.
But Barcelona did not know how to preserve the result in the final minutes, nor extend it. Betis sounded the trumpet again, with the match already very stuck, with fouls, stoppages… The added time had been eight minutes and in the middle, two of which those who had entered the field generated the tie: Ruibal’s center and Diao’s very difficult shot from the penalty spot. It surprised the Barcelona goalkeeper, who couldn’t even go for the ball.
At the horn, Betis tied… And thanks, or not, depending on how you look at it…