Barcelona held to 1-1 draw by Betis

FC Barcelona missed a golden opportunity to widen the gap in the La Liga title race on Saturday, drawing 1-1 at home against Real Betis. Despite taking an early lead through Gavi and dominating much of the match, Barça couldn't break through the resilient Betis defense, even after rivals Real Madrid had slipped earlier in the day.

Bright start, quick response

With Frenkie de Jong returning to the starting lineup, Barcelona looked sharp from the outset. The home side struck first in the 7th minute with a beautifully worked team move, finished off by Gavi, who calmly slotted the ball past the Betis goalkeeper. But just ten minutes later, the visitors hit back. From a corner, Natan Bernardo rose highest and powered a header into the net, leveling the score at 1-1. It was a rare moment of threat from Betis in a half otherwise controlled by the Catalans.

Missed opportunities and substitutions

Barcelona continued to dominate possession and created several half-chances, but lacked precision in the final third. Frenkie de Jong, who had started brightly, was substituted just after the hour mark by coach Hansi Flick, as Barça pushed for a winner. Shortly afterward, former Ajax winger Antony was also taken off for Betis. Despite Barcelona’s control, they couldn’t find the breakthrough. Betis sat deep and defended with discipline, absorbing pressure and frustrating their opponents.

Szczęsny saves the day late on

While Barcelona looked more likely to score, it was Real Betis who came closest to snatching all three points in the closing minutes. A fast break forced goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny into a crucial save, denying Betis a shock late winner with a reflex stop that kept the score level.

Title race stays tight

The result means Barcelona edge one point further ahead of Real Madrid, who earlier lost 2-1 to Valencia. Barça now sit on 67 points, with Real Madrid trailing by four. Real Betis remains in fifth place and continues to push for a Champions League spot. Though Barcelona will be frustrated with the missed opportunity to extend their lead, the point may still prove valuable in what is shaping up to be one of the most thrilling title races in recent La Liga history.