Match Preview: Wednesday 24/01/2007 21:00 (GMT +1): La Liga, Match Day 15
REAL BETIS BALOMPIE - FC BARCELONA 1:1 (1:0) -

Manuel Ruiz De Lopera, Sevilla – Attendance: 50.000
Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco


Goals:

1-0 Robert 38´
1-1 Marquez 61´


Betis (4-4-2): Doblas - Melli, Juanito, Nano, Fernando Vega - Sobis, Assuncao, Fernando, Arzu (Miguel Angel 70´) - Capi (Rivera 58´), Robert (Dani 64´) - Manager: Luis Fernandez


FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes - Oleguer, Marquez, Puyol, Gio - Motta, Deco, Iniesta - Giuly (Xavi 69´), Saviola (Gudjohnsen 61´), Ronaldinho - Manager: Frank Rijkaard


Match Report: Barca - Leaders with 1 point!

FC Barcelona went 1 point clear at the top of La Liga after a 1-1 draw at Real Betis. Betis took the lead on 38 minutes when Robert headed the ball home after the Barca defence left the Betis attacker completely free just a few meters away from the goal. 61 minutes into the game Mexican defender Rafael Marquez rescued a point for the Blaugrana, when he also headed home after a corner. Fortunately, Betis´ substitute Dani missed a great chance just seconds before the final whistle.


The game, was Barca´s outstaqnding game, re-scheduled while on the trip to Japan to play for the FIFA Club World Club. Now all teams in La Liga have played the same amount of matches and Barca is leader with 1 point midway through the season, despite many unfortunate injuries.


The match started on a high pace and Barca was controlling the ball in midfield (65% of ball posession), but both sides did not create any significant goalscoring opportunities. Only two long range efforts from Rafael Sobis and Marcos Assunçao was all and they did not cause any kind of concern to Victor Valdes. FC Barcelona were playing the ball around very nicely and Betis were being closed into their own half, but no real chances were created. The sudden goal from Robert was literally the only chance worth mentioning for the home team in the first half. Just when Barça looked to have all under control, Betis went ahead after a corner when Nano was able to loop the ball to Robert to head home unchallenged.


Barca tried even harder in the second half. Barça came the first time close to the equalizer when Motta was just too late to get on the end of a Deco free kick on 52 minutes. Then in minute 55, a Ludovic Giuly strike was turned onto the post by a Betis defender. Finally Barca equalized in the 61st minute from a corner, taken by Deco. Rafa Marquez was able to head the ball into the goal. Betis goalkeeper tried to get his hands to the ball but was only able to deflect it into his own goal.


The Barca team now get going and trying to score the winning goal. Barca looked much more comfortable on the ball but to many individual mistakes in the build up of chances, disallowed Barca from creating clear cut chances. So, it was Betis who had two excellent opportunities. In the 77th minute, Fernando´s shot went high. And in the final seconds Dani very nearly scored the winner but his deflection just went wide.