Betis-Barcelona is a semi-final of the 2023 Spanish Super Cup and is played on Thursday at 8pm: TV, streaming, predictions and likely line-ups.
In the other semi-final of the Spanish Super Cup, Betis, holders of the Copa del Rey, and Barcelona, runners-up in the last edition of La Liga, will play each other. The green-and-whites and the blaugrana take to the pitch twenty-four hours after the first semi-final between Real Madrid and Valencia, vying for a place in Sunday’s final.
The Final Four of the Spanish Super Cup, like a year ago, is staged in the Saudi city of Jeddah. And hosting the challenge between Manuel Pellegrini’s men and Xavi’s will be the ‘King Abdullah Sports City’ stadium. Barça arrived in Saudi Arabia on the wings of enthusiasm: on Sunday, without the disqualified Lewandowski, they managed to conquer Madrid’s Metropolitano thanks to a goal from Dembelé and moved up to +3 from Real, who on Saturday afternoon had suffered their second defeat in the last four days, at the Villarreal stadium. It was not an exceptional performance by the Catalans, but the victory against Atletico was practically obligatory after the Blancos’ false step: at the top of the La Liga standings there are now – alone – the Blaugrana, the best defence in the league with six goals conceded. Barcelona are chasing what would be their 25th Super Cup final: a trophy they have won thirteen times in the past, but have failed to win since the 2018 edition. The only final played with Betis was 18 years ago.
Xavi finds Lewandowski
At that time there was still the formula of a return leg: Barcelona mortgaged victory in the first leg with a clear 3-0 win and then lost 2-1 in the return match.
Betis players after a goal
On the final day of La Liga, Barça indirectly did their next opponents a favour. Thanks to their victory in the away match in Vallecas against Rayo, they overtook Atletico and moved into fourth place, one point ahead of the Colchoneros. Pellegrini’s team is doing very well in the league and from next March will also be involved in the Europa League, where they will start directly from the round of 16. The Argentine coach has no injury problems. And against Barcelona he will field the best possible formation, with the Henrique-Fekir-Canales trio behind Borja Iglesias. Xavi also faces no major defections. Compared to the Madrid match, he will have Lewandowski back, who will not have to serve his three-turn ban in the Super Cup.
The Prediction
Two healthy and confident teams face off, and are likely to produce an entertaining match, with at least one goal on each side and more than two overall. The favourite is obviously Xavi’s team, reinvigorated by their important success in Madrid.
Betis-Barcelona’s likely line-up
- BETIS (4-2-3-1): Rui Silva; Sabaly, Edgar, Pezzella, Miranda; Guido Rodríguez, William Carvalho; Luiz Henrique, Fekir, Canales; Borja Iglesias.
- BARCELONA (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Koundé, Araujo, Christensen, Jordi Alba; Busquets, de Jong; Gavi, Pedri, Dembélé; Lewandowski.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
