Barcelona Stumbles Again: Real Betis Snatches Late Draw in LaLiga Thriller
Barcelona fans, brace yourselves. The Catalan giants are in a rough patch, and Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín only added to the growing frustration. Hansi Flick’s side, once cruising at the top of LaLiga, has now dropped points in four of their last five league games. The cracks are showing, and the pressure is mounting.
Let’s set the stage. Barcelona twice took the lead, thanks to goals from Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. But Real Betis, refusing to back down, clawed their way back with a Giovani Lo Celso penalty and a dramatic 94th-minute equalizer from Assane Diao. The result? A share of the spoils and more questions than answers for Barcelona.
Barcelona’s Slipping Grip on LaLiga
Here’s the cold, hard truth: Barcelona’s recent form is worrying. The league leaders have now lost two, drawn two, and won just one of their last five fixtures. That once-comfortable nine-point cushion over second-place Real Madrid has been slashed to five points, and Madrid still has two games in hand. The title race is heating up, and Barcelona is suddenly looking vulnerable.
After the match, Hansi Flick didn’t sugarcoat his feelings. “It was not a good match,” the German coach admitted during the post-game press conference. “We have a young team and we have to improve a lot. It’s what we have to do. It’s up to us, we have the quality to win every match, but we also have to show that.”
Flick’s Substitutions Raise Eyebrows
Flick’s decisions during the game didn’t escape scrutiny. With the match hanging in the balance, he made some bold substitutions, pulling off key players like Lewandowski, Raphinha, Dani Olmo, and Pedri. The move raised eyebrows, especially since Barcelona was struggling to maintain control.
When asked about his substitutions, Flick explained that he had one eye on the midweek Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmund. “Of course, we had to bring new legs, fresh legs, and we tried for that,” he said. “We have on Wednesday a big match in the Champions League. We also have to take care about that.”
But Flick didn’t shy away from acknowledging Barcelona’s struggles. “At first, we played really bad, also from the beginning,” he said. “The first situation we played good [in the game] was the Lewandowski goal [in the 39th minute].”
VAR Drama and Flick’s Red Card
The game wasn’t without controversy. Lewandowski’s opener was canceled out when substitute Frenkie de Jong brought down Vitor Roque—a Barcelona loanee—inside the box. After a lengthy VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Lo Celso converted. The decision infuriated Flick, who was shown a red card for “coming out of his technical area, shouting, gesticulating, and protesting a decision,” according to the referee’s report.
Flick defended his actions, saying, “I said nothing to anyone. It was just a reaction from myself. I have to accept it. I don’t want to speak about referees. I never do this.” He added, “I think this was a reaction because it took a long time to look if it was a penalty or not. If it’s like this, I’m not sure if it’s clear.”
Despite his frustration, Flick said Barcelona would not appeal the dismissal or the touchline ban that will follow. He also praised his assistant, Marcus Sorg, for managing the latter stages of the game in his absence.
Late Drama and Missed Opportunities
Barcelona thought they had secured all three points when Yamal set up Torres for his ninth assist of the season—a league-high—in the 82nd minute. But Betis had other plans. In stoppage time, Diao struck to snatch a point for the home side, leaving Barcelona stunned.
Key Takeaways
- Barcelona has dropped points in four of their last five LaLiga games.
- Their lead over Real Madrid has been cut to five points, with Madrid holding two games in hand.
- Hansi Flick’s substitutions and red card were major talking points after the game.
- Real Betis showed resilience, with Assane Diao’s 94th-minute goal sealing the draw.
With a crucial Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund looming, Barcelona has little time to dwell on this result. But one thing is clear: the team needs to find its rhythm—and fast—if they want to keep their LaLiga title hopes alive.
Originally Written by: Sam Marsden
