Real Betis vs Barcelona live score, updates, highlights & lineups from La Liga as Robert Lewandowski returns

Robert Lewandowski is back for Barcelona as the La Liga leaders visit Real Betis in a midweek La Liga showdown in the spotlight as the only Spanish top flight fixture of the day.

Barcelona managed to secure a trio of 1-0 wins without their Polish striker, but the attack suffered greatly as he was sidelined with a suspension for abusing a match official. With Lewandowski back, the Blaugrana will be salivating, already holding a five-point lead atop the table.

The team’s back line carried the team through his absence, as it has all season, having conceded just six goals in 18 league games this term, an astonishing number that will have the club eyeing Spanish defensive records at the midway mark.

Real Betis sit sixth in the table, trading results with defeats over their past five and in the mix for a European place next season. Manuel Pellegrini nearly pulled off the upset over Barcelona in the Supercopa de Espana semifinals two weeks ago, but saw his side defeated in a penalty shootout.

The Sporting News will be following the match live and providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

Real Betis vs Barcelona live score

Goals:
None

Confirmed lineups:

Real Betis (4-2-3-1, right to left): 13. R. Silva (GK) — 24. Ruibal, 16. Pezzella, 19. Felipe, 20. Abner — 14. Carvalho, 5. G. Rodriguez — 11. Henrique, 10. Canales, 8. Fekir — 9. Iglesias.

Barcelona (4-4-2, right to left): 1. ter Stegen (GK) — 23. Kounde, 4. R. Araujo, 15. Christensen, 28. Balde — 6. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 21. de Jong, 8. Pedri — 22. Raphinha, 9. Lewandowski.

Real Betis vs Barcelona live updates, highlights, commentary

5 mins to kick: One thing to remember is that Robert Lewandowski, who returns from his three-match suspension, was able to play in other competitions while he sat out three league games. That means he has been able to stay sharp with match fitness through his time out and should be fine to hit the ground running.

Laser Focus pic.twitter.com/zATIPAm5YV

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 1, 2023

18 mins to kick: The players are out for warmups and this match is getting closer. Barcelona has an opportunity here to open up an eight-point advantage atop the La Liga table with a win, which feels huge given how Real Madrid have slipped since the World Cup. Betis, meanwhile, can draw level with fourth-placed Atletico Madrid on points with a victory, and can still slide into fifth with a draw, so there’s a lot at stake here for both sides.

Warmup time #BetisBarça 🔜 pic.twitter.com/7apwRlP3il

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 1, 2023

35 mins to kick: With Robert Lewandowski back in the lineup, Barcelona will hope it doesn’t come to this, but according to Opta, the club has never won four consecutive top flight matches by a one-goal margin. They won their last three matches all by a 1-0 scoreline, having to scrape together victories without their main striker.

3 – Barcelona have won each of their last three LaLiga games by a one goal margin – never in the competition have they previously won four on the bounce by a single goal. Pragmatic. pic.twitter.com/0Q5g35zdMR

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 1, 2023

60 mins to kick: The Real Betis lineup is also official, and there are two fascinating wrinkles, one on each flank. Manager Manuel Pellegrini has rotated both his full-backs, with Aitor Ruibal coming in on the right and Abner entering on the left. Ruibal has seen decent time in a platoon with Youssouf Sabaly, but his 22-year-old Brazilian counterpart is making just his second appearance of the season, slotted into the left-hand spot after Alex Moreno signed for Aston Villa.

It’s a huge moment for Abner, who will be seeing a lot of both Raphinha and Gavi in this match. He’ll want a good performance to ward off a challenge from 23-year-old Juan Miranda for the left-back spot.

Cambia los laterales Pellegrini y pone como titular tanto a Abner como a Ruibal. Lo demás, once esperado para jugar de tú a tú contra el #FCBarcelona. Veremos como le sale al #RealBetis. Partido clave hoy.

— Manu Colchón (@manu_colchon) February 1, 2023

68 mins to kick: The Barcelona lineup is in, and it’s as expected except for one interesting tweak. With Ousmane Dembele out thanks to a hamstring injury, Xavi has decided to deploy four midfielders and play Robert Lewandowski up top alongside Raphinha. Ansu Fati, who would have been a natural replacement for Dembele on the wing, remains on the bench in his super sub role.

Four mids back again. All eyes on Raphinha. Gavi number 6. Lewandowski returns. Looks like Xavi has his preferred defensive line pretty clear. pic.twitter.com/qiafOESBsW

— Pol Ballús (@polballus) February 1, 2023

82 mins to kick: They’re testing out the smoke machines at the home of Real Betis in Spain. Should be an exciting atmosphere for fans in Seville!

🏟️ Estadio Benito Villamarín
📍 Seville#BetisBarça pic.twitter.com/rpy1TQ5YAP

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 1, 2023

95 mins to kick: One of the weirder stories to come out of Barcelona’s financial crisis it the issues with Gavi’s new contract that have arisen in the past few days. The 18-year-old signed a new deal through the summer of 2026, but La Liga rejected the contract’s registration prior to the January transfer window closing. Had they not been able to register Gavi’s new deal, he would not have been able to play through the second half of the season in league action.

However, a Spanish court ruled that La Liga must accept the deal, as it would have caused Barcelona “irreparable harm” had they not been able to do so, seeing Gavi potentially leave on a free transfer. Gavi’s contract has been registered and he is available for selection today, and he will wear No. 6 today for the first time, changing his number from the old 30 he wore due to his official status as a youth team player.

Still, there could be more to come on this. Spanish journalist Luis Rojo is reporting that Gavi’s release clause in his new contract is written as $1 billion, but if La Liga win their appeal of the court’s decision, it could be slashed to as low as $50 million, leaving a young superstar midfielder available for an incredibly low price.

🚨🚨| If La Liga wins the appeal, then Gavi’s contract renewal will be CANCELLED and his release clause will drop to €50M.@Luis_F_Rojo [🎖️]

— Managing Barça (@ManagingBarca) January 31, 2023

105 mins to kick: Barcelona will go with their exceptional gold kits today, which are always a good look.

⭐️ Gold threads for #BetisBarça pic.twitter.com/aYonZ9ATi0

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) February 1, 2023

120 mins to kick: Robert Lewandowski managed to keep his lead atop the La Liga scoring table through his three-match suspension, and Barcelona will be thrilled to have him back. The Blaugrana were poor up front without Lewandowski during his three match suspension, scoring just three goals on 2.93 xG. Before his suspension, Barcelona were averaging 2.65 xG per match in league play, but had to scrounge together three 1-0 victories.

⚽️ #LaLigaSantander 𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗥𝗦 ⚽️

🚪 @JoseluMato9 is knocking on @lewy_official‘s door. pic.twitter.com/OSsegwN9lQ

— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) January 31, 2023

Real Betis vs Barcelona lineups & team news

Only one player will miss this match for Real Betis due to injury, as Juan Cruz has been missing since the World Cup break ended due to a hamstring problem.

It’s too soon for new loan signing Ayoze Perez who arrived from Leicester City on Deadline Day, who fails to even make the bench. Abner slides in at left-back, beating Juan Miranda to the role after regular starter Alex Moreno left for Aston Villa at the deadline. Aitor Ruibal is selected over Youssouf Sabaly at right-back.

Nabil Fekir sat last time out against Getafe, but came off the bench for the final 20 minutes to provide a positive injection and help secure a late victory, and he starts today. Head coach Manuel Pellegrini had to choose two between Guido Rodriguez, William Carvalho, and Juanmi, and it’s the former two who get the nod.

Real Betis confirmed starting lineup (4-2-3-1): R. Silva (GK) — Ruibal, Pezzella, Felipe, Abner — Carvalho, Rodriguez — Henrique, Canales, Fekir — Iglesias.

Real Betis subs (12): Bravo (GK), Martin (GK), Montoya, E. Gonzalez, V. Ruiz, Sabaly, Miranda, Guardado, Juanmi, W. Jose, Joaquin, Rodri.

💚🤍🖤

Our starting eleven for #RealBetisBarça!#BetisDay pic.twitter.com/PWHRi70xx4

— Real Betis Balompié (@RealBetis_en) February 1, 2023

The biggest issue for Barcelona for this midweek match is an injury to Ousmane Dembele, who will miss a few weeks after being forced off over the weekend against Girona with a hamstring injury. Dembele has a history of hamstring injuries, which is worrying, but this one doesn’t appear to be too serious.

However, Robert Lewandowski is back in La Liga play after serving his three match suspension for being sent off after abusing an official. Barcelona struggled up front without Lewandowski at the point of the attack, winning all three games 1-0 in his absence.

In midfield, Xavi has decisions to make as Frenkie de Jong did not project as a starter before the season but has been a mainstay since the start of October. He sat out the win over Getafe but returned to play 90 minutes last time out against Girona. There has been rotation in midfield through the winter fixture congestion, with Gavi, Pedri, and Sergio Busquets all taking turns on the bench. It feels like Busquets could be sacrificed this time around, having started seven of the last eight league games.

Barcelona confirmed starting lineup (4-4-2): ter Stegen (GK) — Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde — Gavi, Busquets, de Jong, Pedri — Raphinha, Lewandowski.

Barcelona subs (11): Pena (GK), Tenas (GK), Garcia, Alba, Alonso, Roberto, Kessie, P. Torre, Alarcon, F. Torres, Fati.

👥 𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐎́𝐍

⚽ #BetisBarça pic.twitter.com/SIfigHgYvM

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) February 1, 2023

How to watch Real Betis vs Barcelona

Here’s how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:

UK: La Liga matches in the UK are carried on LaLiga TV, with streaming available on Viaplay Sports.

USA: All La Liga matches in the United States are shown on ESPN’s premium streaming service ESPN+, requiring a subscription to view. Select matches, including today’s match, are broadcast in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, which is available to stream via fuboTV.

Canada: All La Liga matches in Canada are available via TSN’s streaming options, with today’s match also shown on linear on TSN 3 and TSN 5.

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport. 

Real Betis vs Barcelona betting odds & lines

Odds via BetMGM (USA), Sports Interaction (Canada), SkyBet (UK), and Neds (Australia).

Barcelona are an understandably heavy favorite in today’s match, given their lead atop the La Liga table and incredible run of results.

What oddsmakers are far more unsure about is how the match will play out in terms of game flow. It seems that the clash between Barcelona’s incredible league defensive record and the wild 2-2 draw these two teams played to recently in the Supercopa semifinals has books split nearly down the middle both on the total goals and whether both teams will score.