Barça take their 100% record to Real Betis
By Karl Matchett
Hansi Flick’s side look the real deal this season and the term “free-scoring” could have been hand-crafted for their start to 2026/27.
That’s… 43 in ten?!
Averaging well over four goals a game so far, the roaming and roving of Raphinha, Dani Olmo and Fermín López has proven near-impossible to stop. Adding more pace on the flanks has been a great move too, with Anthony Gordon settling well, and that’s before considering the class of Lamine Yamal.
A huge 43 goals in the first ten games of the campaign has included scoring five times in three of their first four outings, then also seven against Santander. Unsurprisingly they are top for xG (30.5) but it’s eye-opening to see them well over ten clear of their nearest challenger already (Real Madrid, 19.9) and a similar gap for possession: 70% average, with Villarreal next at 60%. They are LaLiga’s dominant force in the first third of the season, and it’s not just for in-possession metrics – they lead the clean sheets table and the lowest xG conceded, too.
Betis building something real
But for all Barcelona’s excellent start, this will be a real test. Two months into the league season and two games into the Champions League campaign, and their opponents in green and white have lost just once – that should tell you everything about the quality, but also the resilience, on show at the Estadio La Cartuja these days.
They’ve beaten Real Sociedad, Valencia and Real Madrid, won at Lille and saw off Porto – though that does make the 5-2 loss at Levante more puzzling. Manuel Pellegrini’s side are well-balanced, have threats from in-form attackers in Troy Parrott and Abde Ezzalzouli, have experience throughout the team and look capable of improving on last year’s fifth-place finish.
Recent form
Betis have only lost three games since the end of March, including a Europa League semi-final – and one against Barcelona near the end of last term. This term it’s eight wins from ten in all competitions.
Barcelona themselves have a perfect ten from ten.
Team news
Júnior Firpo misses out again for Betis and Aitor Ruibal is closing in on a return. Barcelona will be missing Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong and long-term absentee Roony Bardghji.
Key player
Betis will look to shut down Barça’s talented attackers by preventing the supply line – which means Rodri will need a huge showing both on and off the ball. Not often a problem for him but this is the game to show his immense worth: against LaLiga midfielders this season he’s ahead of 95% for recoveries, 92% for interceptions, 94% for winning duels, 98 for touches, 93% for headed shots and the full 100% for successful passes.
Prediction
The hosts will play with no fear but it’s also hard to see them keeping Barça at bay all game long: Betis 1-2 Barcelona.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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