Barcelona wasted a valuable opportunity to expand their lead at the top of La Liga after being held to a 1-1 draw by a resilient Real Betis at Montjuïc.
Despite taking the lead early through Gavi, the Blaugrana failed to take advantage of their superior play and were pegged back by a Betis equalizer, leaving them frustrated in their pursuit of a vital victory.
Here are the ratings of the players from Barça’s disappointing draw:
Wojciech Szczesny: 6.5
The Polish keeper had little to do all match, but he could have done better on Betis’s equalizer from a corner.
His positioning was slightly off, leaving him with little time to respond to the close-range header.
Apart from that instance, he was not tested at all.
Alejandro Balde: 6.8
Balde struggled to perform on the attack and was often forced to play at the back to clear Betis’s right-sided attackers.
His usual attacking threat was also reduced, at least in part, by the absence of a natural left-winger in front of him.
Pau Cubarsí: 8
The young center-back was leading Barcelona’s defense with composure.
His distribution out of the back was excellent, and he played a key role in building attacks from deep.
Ronald Araujo: 7.5
Araujo remained calm at the back and showed improved passing accuracy, a huge boost to his game.
He shut down Betis’ forwards for the majority of the game and was consistent in one-on-one duels.
Jules Kounde: 7.7
The Frenchman was Barcelona’s excellent full-back of the night, with solidity at the back being supported by menacing overlapping runs.
He was ably supported by Lamine Yamal and even had what looked like a scoring opportunity in the second half.
Pedri: 8.3
Pedri set the tempo for Barcelona with his typical poise and vision, but the signs of fatigue began to show as the game went on.
His ability to hold possession and play probing passes was crucial, but he needs to rest urgently.
Frenkie de Jong: 8.5
De Jong was a controlling presence in the middle of the park, adding defensive work to his usual carrying capability.
His decision-making was sharp, and he dictated the game until he was substituted in the second half.
Gavi: 8.5
Match-winner Gavi started the scoring with a great run and finish, as he continued to pester Betis’ midfield with his dogged determination throughout the game.
His endurance and awareness were two of the main reasons for Barcelona’s best performance.
Lamine Yamal: 7.5
Yamal was once more a thorn in the side on the right wing, using his creativity and ball control to cause Betis’s defense headaches.
At this tender age, he played with maturity and was the source of most of Barcelona’s attacking forays.
Ferran Torres: 7.5
Starting in a wide position, Torres created Gavi for the opportunity with a well-timed pass and made astute runs all game long.
But he lacked the finishing touch at key times.
Robert Lewandowski: 6.2
A subdued evening for the Polish winger, who could not find a way to get into the game.
He was isolated for much of the time and was not impactful in the third phase.
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