Opponent watch: Two Real Betis stars ruled out of La Liga clash vs Barcelona
Barcelona and Xavi will need a long time to recover from the defeat in the Spanish Super Cup final. They may not have been favourites on the night, but the sheer manner in which they drowned on the grasses of Al-Awwal Stadium was shameful to witness.
Real Madrid put four goals past the Catalans on the night, lifting the Spanish Super Cup and breaking their opponents’ confidence in the process. Yet, such is the schedule ahead that Barcelona do not have much time to repent.
The schedule ahead
Xavi’s men return to the field as early as Thursday when they take on Unionistas de Salamanca in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey.
The game will be played away from home and will be far from easy considering that their opponents on the night knocked the mighty Villarreal out in the last round.
Following that, the Catalans travel to Benito Villamarin to take on Real Betis in a blockbuster La Liga clash.
Los Verdiblancos are currently placed seventh in the league standing and will give the Catalans a run for their money with the home advantage.
Not at full strength
Manuel Pellegrini’s men were hammered by Barcelona the last time the two teams met in La Liga and will be keen on exacting revenge at the weekend. However, they will be missing some key players on the night.
As revealed by the team’s administration via social media, Ayoze Perez and Aitor Rubial are both injured and out until recovery. They will thus definitively miss the clash against Barcelona next week.
Perez is a regular starter for Pellegrini’s side across all competitions this season and has played part in 19 of Real Betis’ 20 clashes in La Liga this season.
In that duration, he has recorded four goals and an assist to his name while playing in midfield.
Rubial, meanwhile, plies his trade at right-back where he has featured 12 times for the team in La Liga. He has racked up an assist and two goals in that duration whilst also averaging over ten defensive actions per game.
