La Liga table-toppers Barcelona face a potentially tricky test at Real Betis on Wednesday evening as they look to try and extend their lead at the summit.
The Catalans are hoping to reclaim the title they last won in 2019 and are looking very promising at the halfway stage, as they have collected 47 points from 18 games to open up a five-point cushion over nearest rivals Real Madrid.
Xavi's men are currently unbeaten in their last nine La Liga matches and will be aiming to extend that impressive record against Betis, who are sixth in the table and in the hunt for a top-four finish.
Real Betis vs Barcelona Betting Tips
- Barcelona to win and both teams to score @ 23/10
- Pedri to score anytime @ 5/2
Team news
The only absent player for Real Betis will be winger Juan Cruz, who is continuing his recuperation from a hamstring injury suffered in early October.
Nabil Fekir and Juanmi returned to the bench for their victory over Getafe at the weekend and are pushing for starts, while January arrival Abner is hoping to make his first start since joining.
Barcelona will welcome back talisman Robert Lewandowski following a suspension that has seen him miss the last three La Liga matches.
Fellow forward Ferran Torres is also back from a ban but Xavi is poised to be without Ousmane Dembele, who is facing a couple of weeks on the sidelines with a thigh issue.
Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto and Pedri were benched for the weekend win at Girona and the trio could all be handed recalls to the starting XI.
Football Betting Odds
Barcelona to win and both teams to score @ 23/10
Barca have been outstanding in La Liga this season, losing just one of their 18 fixtures, and Sunday's 1-0 triumph at Girona extended their winning ruin across all competitions to eight matches.
However, Betis caused them big problems in the Spanish Super Cup earlier this month and the Catalan side needed a penalty shootout to win the game following a 2-2 draw.
Both sides have scored in eight of the last nine meetings across all competitions and there is no question that Manuel Pellegrini's men can put Barcelona under a lot of pressure.
However, La Liga's leaders have become a winning machine this year and should be strong enough to earn the three points in what promises to be an entertaining contest.
Pedri to score anytime @ 5/2
Long heralded as one of the most promising playmakers on the planet, Pedri has now started to add more goals to his game.
Across all competitions, he has scored six goals this season and three of them have come in his last four games.
Two of them proved to be winning goals and one was against Real Madrid, so he is becoming accustomed to turning up in the pressure moments.
With so much creativity around him, he no longer has to be the sole contributor when it comes to assists and that has freed him up to score more goals.
Latest Real Betis vs Barcelona Betfred Odds
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