A frustrating evening at Camp Nou as Barcelona let two vital points slip away in the La Liga title race. Despite controlling much of the match, a late blow from Real Betis left the home fans stunned.

Barcelona squandered a major opportunity to extend their lead over Real Madrid to six points following Los Blancos’ unexpected defeat to Valencia. Instead, the Catalan side had to settle for a 1-1 draw against a spirited Real Betis team at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Under Hansi Flick, Barça put in a strong performance but couldn’t secure the victory, despite controlling the game for large periods.

The match began on a promising note for Barcelona when Gavi netted the opener with a calm finish against his former youth club. However, Betis quickly responded with a well-rehearsed set-piece goal that caught the home side off guard. Although Barcelona dominated possession and pressed hard in the closing stages, they couldn’t find the winning goal to take full advantage of Real Madrid’s slip.

In goal, Wojciech Szczesny had a relatively uneventful game but might have done better with the equalizer. Alejandro Balde didn’t offer much influence, limited by a lack of space and support ahead.

In contrast, Pau Cubarsí and Ronald Araújo were reliable at the back, showing strong positional sense and composure. Jules Koundé was particularly impressive, contributing both defensively and in attack, linking well with Lamine Yamal.

The midfield was where Barcelona truly shone. Pedri orchestrated play with his sharp vision and intelligence, although signs of fatigue are beginning to appear. Frenkie de Jong brought balance and calm to the center of the pitch, though he was taken off early, possibly for squad rotation purposes.

Gavi stood out with a brilliant all-round display — scoring the goal, pressing aggressively, and showcasing his tactical awareness. His performance earned him the Man of the Match honor.

On the wings, Lamine Yamal was electric, constantly troubling the Betis defense with his pace and creativity. Ferran Torres also had a productive evening, delivering a smart assist and making dangerous runs. However, Robert Lewandowski’s continued struggles were evident once again; he lacked involvement, sharpness, and failed to pose a significant threat.

In conclusion, Barcelona had control of the game and delivered some exciting football, especially through their young midfield stars and wide players.

However, the inability to finish their chances cost them dearly. Lewandowski’s dip in form is now a pressing issue, and Hansi Flick may need to make tactical adjustments up front if Barça want to stay in the title race.