Barcelona missed the chance to extend their La Liga lead after a 1-1 draw against Real Betis. Despite an early goal from Gavi, Barca failed to break down a resilient Betis side. Robert Lewandowski struggled, and Hansi Flick's men couldn't take advantage of Real Madrid’s earlier loss.
Barcelona squandered a key opportunity to widen the gap atop La Liga after being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Real Betis at home. With Real Madrid suffering a shock defeat earlier in the day, the Catalan giants had the chance to move six points clear — but couldn't capitalize.
Gavi gave Barcelona a dream start, finishing neatly after a slick assist from Ferran Torres in just the seventh minute. However, their early dominance quickly faded. Real Betis responded strongly, with Natan heading in from a Giovani Lo Celso corner to level the match just ten minutes later.
Despite creating multiple chances, Barcelona’s attack — led by an unusually quiet Robert Lewandowski — struggled to break down a resilient Betis defense. Ferran Torres wasted a golden opportunity to put Barca ahead again, firing wide from close range after good work from Alejandro Balde.
Real Betis, bolstered by strong performances from Manchester United loanee Antony and their goalkeeper Adriano, held firm under growing pressure. Even Jules Koundé’s late effort was denied dramatically.
New Barcelona boss Hansi Flick will be disappointed with his side's inability to seize the moment, particularly with the title race heating up. While Gavi's tireless display stood out, many of his teammates failed to match his energy and intent.
With the points shared, Barcelona missed a golden chance to assert control over the league, leaving Real Madrid still within striking distance.
