28 Aug 2019
BARCELONA V REAL BETIS ODDS HERE!
Shock Opening Loss For Barcelona
Barcelona succumbed to a shock 1-0 defeat away at Bilbao last weekend – their first opening day loss for 11 years. Aritz Aduriz’s acrobatic effort a minute after he’d arrived onto the pitch sealed all three points for Bilbao at the death, as they’ve carried on their good form from the back end of last season.
The Catalans, as expected, had their chances in the game, hitting the post on three occasions, but were lacking firepower when Luis Suarez went off injured. Betis went down 2-1 at home to Valladolid on their opening day, though they were down to 10 men as early as the eighth minute, yet almost managed to seal a point as their visitors found an 89th-minute winner. Betis won this fixture 4-3 last season, while they also inflicted a defeat on giants Real Madrid at the Bernabeu to prove they are more than equipped to deal with this level of opposition.
Messi Expected To Return
Ernesto Valverde has an attacking conundrum to solve as Suarez will be absent, as will Frenchman Ousmane Dembele, but while there’s a chance Lionel Messi could feature, it’s unlikely to be from the start given the manner in which muscle injuries have a habit of causing setbacks.
Should the diminutive Argentine miss out then Barca look depleted up top, especially following the departure of Phillipe Coutinho. Antoine Griezmann will be tasked with leading the line, but the former Atletico man has underwhelmed when utilized in a central role during pre-season.
If Messi Doesn’t Start
If Messi doesn’t start the match, we’re inclined to believe that the odds on Barca to win are incredibly short, considering they have only a 44% win percentage when he hasn’t started under Valverde in La Liga, while last week’s result hasn’t done much to disprove that that could happen again.
Indeed, Barca have a 70% win percentage under Valverde, which drops when any of Messi, Suarez, Dembele or Coutinho are not in the starting lineup. What’s more, Betis inflicted Barcelona’s last league defeat at home in this exact fixture last season when they put four past Valverde’s men and will feel, with a depleted lineup, the Catalan Giants are there for the taking once again. At their price, we’re inclined to have a flutter on them grabbing a result.
If Messi Does Start
If Messi does start, however, this is a totally different ball game. The five-time Ballon D’Or winner has enough in his locker to exploit any team on any given Sunday. Since that defeat to Los Verdiblancos, Barca have won 16 of 20 undefeated league games in which Messi has started, including nine from 10 at Camp Nou as they kept seven clean sheets in the process.
Rubi is not as reckless with his tactics as managers before him, and so will most likely look to contain Valverde’s men and, if all is going to plan, will most likely not press Barca for a goal should their Argentine talisman be on the field to exploit them.
(If Messi starts) Barcelona Win To Nil At 6/5
(If Messi doesn’t start) Real Betis Or Draw – Double Chance At 12/5
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