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FULL-TIME, Real Betis 1-4 Barcelona: Fantastic team performance, another hat-trick from the GOAT, and a 10-point advantage at the top of the table. What a Sunday.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Real Betis 1-4 Barcelona (Messi 85’): IT’S ANOTHER GOLAZO FOR MESSI!!! The captain makes a one-two with Ivan Rakitic and chips the goalkeeper from the edge of the box, with the ball hitting the crossbar before going in to add an extra touch to one of the best goals of the season from the GOAT.
GOAL, Real Betis 1-3 Barcelona (Loren 82’): Betis get a consolation after the ball bounces around in the box and Loren Morón scores a really nice goal.
GOAL!!!!!!! Real Betis 0-3 Barcelona (Suárez 63’): BARÇA TRIPLE THE LEAD!!!! After missing two incredible chances, Luis Suárez scores an impossible goal after running through the entire Betis defense to make it 3-0 and seal the win for the leaders.
HALFTIME, Real Betis 0-2 Barcelona: Barça made an incredible start and a got a goal to show for it, but Betis improved a lot and had a couple of big chances to equalize. Then Messi got a second goal seconds before halftime, and the game may be over. Betis are still really good, though, so we need to keep up the intensity.
GOAL!!!!!!!! Real Betis 0-2 Barcelona (Messi 45’+1): BARÇA DOUBLE THE LEAD! Luis Suárez makes a genius pass to put Messi through on goal, and the captain doesn’t miss. It’s a huge goal just before halftime, and it might be a fatal blow to Betis’ confidence.
GOAL!!!!!!!!!! Real Betis 0-1 Barcelona (Messi 18’): BARÇA TAKE THE LEAD!!!!!!!!! Arthur wins a free kick at the edge of the box, and Lionel Messi fires a rocket into the top corner. It’s what Spanish people call a GOLAZO, and it really was.
KICKOFF! Real Betis 0-0 Barcelona: Let's do this, boys! I already know this game will give me a heart attack, so just win it. Please.
LINEUPS
BARCELONA
Starting XI: Ter Stegen; Roberto, Piqué, Lenglet, Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Arthur, Vidal; Messi, Suárez (4-4-2)
Bench: Cillessen, Umtiti, Semedo, Aleñá, Coutinho, Malcom, Boateng
REAL BETIS
Starting XI: Pau López; Mandi, Bartra, Sidnei; Tello, Lo Celso, Carvalho, Canales, Guardado; Joaquín, Jesé (3-5-2)
Bench: Robles, Feddal, Emerson, Kaptoum, Lainez, Loren, León
WELCOME TO SEVILLE!!! The Benito Villamarín Stadium is the site of perhaps the most important La Liga game of the season so far for Barcelona: if the champions beat Real Betis, they will be 10 points clear of Atlético Madrid at the top of the table with only 10 matches left. Barça could take a giant step to defend their championship tonight, but this won’t be easy against a really good Betis team that destroyed Barça at Camp Nou four months ago. So join us to follow and comment all the action of what should be an incredible game. LET’S LIVE BLOG!!!
(Note: the comments will be open only when the team news come out, because our commenter people love commenting and sometimes there are too many comments in the comments section)
MATCH INFO
Competition/Round: 2018-19 La Liga, Matchday 28
Date/Time: Sunday, March 17, 2019, 8.45pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 7.45pm GMT (UK), 3.45pm ET, 12.45pm PT (USA), 1.15am IST (India, Monday)
Venue: Estadio Benito Villamarín, Seville, Spain
Referee: Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea
HOW TO WATCH, STREAM LA LIGA
How to watch on TV: beIN SPORTS (USA & Canada), Eleven Sports 1, ITV 4 (UK), SuperSport 7 (Nigeria), Movistar Partidazo (Spain), others
How to stream: beIN SPORTS CONNECT (USA & Canada), ITV Hub (UK), Movistar+ (Spain), others
Matchday Thread Rules
We don’t have a lot of rules here, but there are a few things to keep in mind when joining our matchday threads:
Even if the referee sucks or we lose the game, no swearing. It’s just unnecessary. Also, don’t discuss illegal streaming links. Those who do it will be warned, and those who post links will be instantly banned. Finally, be nice to each other. This is a Barcelona community and we don’t need to offend one another.
Have fun with the game! Forever and ever, no matter the competition, VISCA EL BARÇA!