Barcelona left it late against Real Betis to come out with all three points and secure Champions League qualification for next season.
Barcelona were left needing a Jordi Alba injury-time winner against Real Betis as they emerged 2-1 winners with all three goals coming late in the second half. The Catalan giants secured a Champions League berth with the win with three matches remaining in the league.
Barcelona are second in the table with 69 points in 35 matches, while Sevilla trail them at third with 64 points in 34 La Liga encounters. Meanwhile, Real Betis remained at the fifth spot with 58 points from 35 matches, but a win would have sent them level on points with fourth-placed Atletico Madrid.
Ansu Fati opened the scoring in the 76th minute, but former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra equalised for Betis just three minutes later through a header. Both teams continued to throw punches in the final few minutes of the game but it was the visitors who came out on top.
Jordi Alba scored the winner with a thunderous volley deep into added time to give the Catalan giants all three points. Barcelona’s next league assignment is against Celta Vigo in a Tuesday night fixture. Betis, on the other hand, play Valencia on Tuesday in their next La Liga fixture. Here’s how each Barcelona player fared in the encounter at the Benito Villamarin Stadium.
Neto: 7/10
Good game, @Neto_Murara ? pic.twitter.com/K7PnDrxTMD
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 8, 2022
Neto did well to fill up for Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who missed out due to illness. The Brazilian shot-stopper made four saves in the match and completed six of the ten long balls that he attempted.
Dani Alves: 6/10
Dani Alves was troubled at times by Juanmi. He provided the assist for Jordi Alba to make up for any other shortcomings. He made two clearances, an interception, two tackles and also won seven ground duels. Alves also completed all four of his attempted dribbles.
Ronald Araujo: 7/10
Araujo was immense at the heart of the Barcelona defence while also hitting the woodwork once with a header. He made two clearances, blocked three shots, made two interceptions and completed three tackles. Araujo also completed both the long balls that he attempted.
Eric Garcia: 5/10
Garcia did not look assured defensively but was quite composed on the ball. He completed five of the six long balls that he attempted, completing 92% of his passes in all.
Jordi Alba: 8/10
Alba made the assist for Ansu Fati’s opener before scoring in the injury time with a screamer to hand Barcelona all three points. He played four key passes and sent in five crosses. Defensively, he was not great but completed a clearance, an interception and two tackles.
? Game-winning goalscorer @JordiAlba talks about the importance of the win at Betis pic.twitter.com/NUQXuTnK6S
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 8, 2022
Frenkie de Jong: 6/10
Frenkie de Jong had a decent game where he contributed on both ends of the pitch. He completed 86% of his passes, found a teammate with seven of his eight long balls and played a key pass as well. Defensively, he made one clearance and two interceptions.
Sergio Busquets: 7/10
Busquets was his usual busy self in the middle of the park for Barcelona. He won 11 ground and three aerial duels while making one clearance and three interceptions, blocking a shot and completing six tackles. He completed 89% of his passes.
Gavi: 5/10
Gavi failed to have any sort of impact on the game, making just 49 touches of the ball before being hauled off in the 79th minute. He won five ground duels and also had a shot blocked.
Ousmane Dembele: 5/10
Dembele looked busy on the flanks, playing in seven crosses and attempting seven dribbles. But there was no end product to his hard work, while some of his moves were quite predictable as well.
Ferran Torres: 5/10
Torres could not do much while leading the line for Barcelona, missing a big chance in the process. He was taken off for Ansu Fati in the 75th minute, with the La Masia graduate scoring withing seconds of coming on.
Memphis Depay: 5/10
Much like other Barcelona forwards who started the match, Memphis Depay showed flashes of brilliance, but there was no end product. He took one shot and played two key passes as well.
SUBSTITUTES
"A big win against Betis — a direct rival for the Champions League"
— Xavi reacts to Barça's dramatic victory on Saturday night pic.twitter.com/ETJ8UsFbPf
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) May 8, 2022
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: 4/10
Aubameyang was brought on for Memphis in the 66th minute as Barcelona searched for an opener. He took just 11 touches of the ball in 24 minutes and managed two shots in them, one of which was a big opportunity.
Adama Traore: 4/10
Traore came on for Dembele in the 74th minute and made just six touches. He played in two crosses, one of which was successful.
Ansu Fati: 7/10
Fati came on for Torres in the 75th minute and made an immediate impact, scoring within a minute of coming on.
Riqui Puig: 5/10
Puig came on for Gavi in the 79th minute and was relatively busier than the other substitutes. He completed 15 of the 18 passes that he attempted.
