Real Betis vs Barcelona Predictions & Match Preview

Real Betis vs Barcelona predictions and match preview for Thursday’s Supercopa Semi-Final. Read on for analysis as the sides meet in Riyadh.

Real Betis vs Barcelona Preview

The second Supercopa Semi-Final takes place on Thursday in Riyadh. It features defending Copa del Rey champions Real Betis and current LaLiga leaders Barcelona and it certainly has the makings of a good game.

It was a good weekend for Real Betis as they won a potentially tricky game in Vallecas 2-1. However it is shaping up to be a difficult month for the Seville club off the pitch with some key men potentially departing. 

Left-back Alex Moreno has agreed to join Aston Villa and hasn’t travelled to Saudi Arabia. He has been an important part of Manuel Pellegrini’s tactical approach and it’ll be tough to replace his attacking threat on the left flank. There has also been talk of a potential move to Atletico Madrid for Borja Iglesias which would represent another major blow for the Chilean should it transpire this January.

On the pitch, Betis have shown they can compete with the best of teams and they’ll fancy their chances in what is their first meeting with Barcelona this season.

Xavi’s team did not set the world on fire in Madrid on Sunday night but they did claim a very important three points with a 1-0 win at the Metropolitano. It was their second league game in a row that finished 10-a-side with Ferran Torres and Stefan Savic seeing red in Stoppage Time. Barcelona now have a 3 point cushion on Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga and will be hoping to land a further psychological blow by winning the Supercopa this week.

This competition does feel more important for Barca than Real Madrid. They haven’t won the Supercopa since 2018 and Xavi is hungry for his first trophy in charge of the club. They may need to play better than they have done since the World Cup if they want to get their hands on it though with a mixed return to action for the Catalan giants.

Score Prediction: Real Betis 2-3 Barcelona

There are usually goals whenever these two clubs meet and there’s every reason to expect a repeat here. Overall though, Barcelona have a bit more depth and more players who can make an impact off the bench while star striker Robert Lewandowski should be fresh and hungry to shine this week given he is currently suspended in LaLiga.

PLEASE NOTE – Our predictions are not betting tips! No profits are guaranteed if you’re using them to bet on Spanish football. If you are gambling, do so responsibly and never stake more than you can afford to lose. BeGambleAware.