Barcelona Held to Frustrating 1-1 Draw Against Real Betis — Player Ratings and Reaction
Barcelona missed a golden chance to go six points clear of Real Madrid after Los Blancos’ surprise defeat to Valencia. Instead, Hansi Flick’s side were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Montjuïc against an in-form Real Betis.
Gavi opened the scoring early with a composed finish against his former academy club, but Betis hit back quickly with a well-worked set-piece goal. Despite dominating possession and pushing forward late on, Barça couldn’t find the decisive breakthrough.
Here’s how the players rated in a high-intensity La Liga showdown:
Player Ratings
Wojciech Szczesny – 6.5
Could’ve done more to prevent the equalizer, but wasn’t at fault entirely. Otherwise had a quiet evening between the sticks.
Alejandro Balde – 6.5
Not his most dynamic outing. Struggled to impact the game on either end, hindered by a lack of width ahead of him.
Pau Cubarsí – 7
Held the line well and showed maturity beyond his years. Calm in buildup and alert in defensive positioning.
Ronald Araújo – 7
Solid and composed. His improved distribution was a big plus, and he offered strength in duels.
Jules Koundé – 7.5
Impressive on both ends of the pitch. Combined well with Yamal, created chances, and remained defensively sound.
Pedri – 8
Ran the show in midfield with his vision and intelligence. Beginning to show signs of fatigue, though, and needs careful management.
Frenkie de Jong – 8
A balanced performance. Kept things ticking in midfield and played with great discipline. Subbed early, likely with squad rotation in mind.
Gavi – 8.5
Man of the Match. Scored the opener, pressed relentlessly, and showed great awareness off the ball. A complete performance.
Lamine Yamal – 8
Always lively and a constant threat down the right flank. Created danger with every touch and kept Betis on the back foot.
Ferran Torres – 7.5
Provided a clever assist and made intelligent runs throughout. A sharp, effective display from the winger.
Robert Lewandowski – 6
Struggled again. Barely involved in buildup, lacked sharpness, and failed to impose himself on the game.
Final Thoughts
Barcelona played the better football and looked in control, but failed to capitalize fully on Real Madrid’s slip-up. Gavi and Pedri were superb in midfield, while Yamal and Torres added spark out wide. However, Lewandowski’s dip in form is becoming increasingly concerning. Flick may need to rethink the attacking balance if Barça are to maintain their title push.
