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Barcelona secured a comfortable 4-1 victory over Real Betis at the Estadio Benito Villamarin on Sunday evening. The win, coupled with Atletico Madrid’s defeat at the weekend, extended the Blaugrana’s lead at the perch of the table to ten points.
The home side started the better of the two with their confidence on the ball refreshing to see. However, a poor concession of a free-kick in the 18th minute allowed the away side to take the lead. Lionel Messi stepped up and rifled the ball into the far corner.
In first-half stoppage time, the visitors doubled their advantage courtesy some slick play between Luis Suarez and Messi. The former drew defenders away before playing an exquisite back-heel pass into the path of the latter. The Argentine made no mistake and stabbed the ball home.
The Uruguayan got himself on the score-sheet in the 63rd minute when he bulldozed past a couple of challenges and slotted the ball into the bottom corner. Though Betis pulled a goal back through Loren, the result was put firmly beyond doubt by Barcelona’s No.10 in the 85th minute.
Here is a look at the three factors that contributed to the away side’s victory:
#3 Real Betis failed to make the most of possession
Real Betis’ style of play has been characterised by an ultra-aggressive philosophy with Quique Setien a firm believer of playing football the beautiful way. However, the said approach has its fair share of shortcomings and on Sunday, those came to the fore.
The hosts enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and ended up with 56% of the ball throughout the game. They looked accomplished and tried to drag the Barcelona defence across the pitch. Yet, they weren’t successful in their endeavours as they managed to muster a grand total of 3 shots on target.
While the build-up play was quick and pleasing on the eye, the end product was sorely lacking. And with them not being able to make the net ripple at the other end, they were hopelessly caught out on the counter.
Time and again, the midfield was by-passed easily on the break and thus, the likes of Suarez and Messi had a field day exploiting the chinks in Betis’ armour.
But, all is not doom and gloom for the hosts. On days when their offensive play clicks, there are hardly any teams in Spain capable of stopping them. After all, they beat Barcelona 4-3 at the Camp Nou earlier in the season.
Yet, unfortunately for them on Sunday, their gung-ho approach ended up creating more problems than solving them.
#2 Valverde’s tactics win the day
Ernesto Valverde sprung a surprise with his starting line-up as he fielded four midfielders in the centre of the park. Yet, the Spaniard was vindicated by the time the game culminated as Barcelona completely outfoxed Betis.
The visitors found ample joy on the counter with several of their goals coming via that avenue.
Additionally, their clever pressing of the ball nullified the hosts’ attacking threat. Though constant counter-pressing is a vital part of Barcelona’s game-play, they picked and chose when to press on Sunday.
At times, they dropped off when the home side enjoyed possession deep in their territory. However, as soon as they sensed an opportunity, the Blaugrana pounced.
Moreover, Marc Andre Ter Stegen’s supreme passing abilities allowed the away side to play out of Betis’ press with diagonal passes to the full-backs and the forwards and frequent get out of jail card.
At the Estadio Benito Villamarin, Barcelona was content to sit back and wait for their chance, something one doesn’t associate with a team inclined to play on the front foot. Yet, Valverde has gotten the Blaugrana side dancing to his tunes.
And while several may be critical of his brand of football, the new-found pragmatism could well lay down the foundation for another Treble-winning season.
#1 Lionel Messi
For the umpteenth time, Lionel Messi was the biggest tilting scale between defeat and victory for Barcelona. After stealing the show in mid-week, the diminutive forward took his game up a notch and delivered a scintillating performance against Betis.
In the opening quarter of the game, the visitors were under the cosh. The home side had started brightly and looked dextrous enough to breach the former’s rear-guard. However, Messi had other ideas.
The Argentine struck a sumptuous free-kick from twenty yards to hand Barcelona the initiative. He took his league tally to 28 on the stroke of half-time after neat interplay with his strike partner, Luis Suarez.
The No.10 though wasn’t finished. With five minutes of regulation time remaining, the forward collected a pass from the left flank and curled a delicious chip beyond Pau Lopez.
When the Argentine is on song, he is just unplayable. And despite a herculean effort, he might still have a further gear to click into.
A few days ago, the world was raving about how a certain Cristiano Ronaldo had propelled his team to victory. Though Messi has admitted before that he doesn’t concern himself with the rivalry, that surely would’ve fuelled the fire of laying down his own marker.
And by the time he was done on Sunday, the Estadio Benito Villamarin rightly reverberated to chants of “Messi, Messi, Messi.”
