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La Liga | Gameweek 23
Feb 9, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Barcelona logo

2-3

Canales (6' pen.), Fekir (26')
FT(HT: 2-2)
de Jong (9'), Busquets (45'), Lenglet (72')

Quique Setien admits Barcelona still "missing things" after Real Betis win

Quique Setien admits Barcelona still
© Reuters
Real Madrid's comprehensive win at Osasuna earlier on Sunday had ratcheted up the pressure on Barca.

Quique Setien was pleased by the manner of Barcelona's comeback victory at former club Real Betis as the La Liga title race heats up.

Having bowed out of the Copa del Rey to Athletic Bilbao on the back of a public spat between Lionel Messi and sporting director Eric Abidal, Barca could ill-afford a tough week getting worse at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Real Madrid's comprehensive win at Osasuna earlier on Sunday ratcheted up the pressure on Barca, who fell behind after just six minutes when Sergio Canales struck home from the spot.

Frenkie de Jong swiftly equalised, only for Nabil Fekir to put Betis back ahead in stunning fashion.

Sergio Busquets took the wind out of the hosts' sails on the stroke of half-time with another equaliser, before Clement Lenglet wrapped up a 3-2 win.

Barca's match-winner and Fekir were sent off towards the end of a night that left head coach Setien pleased – and his side within three points of table-topping Real Madrid.

"I really liked the team," he said after the match in quotes reported by Marca. "You have to give these things value.

"There are things we could have done better, but I'm happy.

"They pressed us a lot.

Spain Soccer La Liga
Barcelona's head coach Quique Setien, right, salutes Betis's head coach Rubi (Miguel Morenatti/AP)

"We had a complicated start and weren't comfortable at any point.

"We really had to press, but they have players with a lot of ability.

"Fekir played an extraordinary game and it was hard to get the ball off him, but we had our moments too."

Messi provided the assist for all three of Barcelona's goals in Seville, where Setien still saw room for improvement given their struggles on the road.

"We're still missing things," he said after his victorious return to Betis, who he managed in the previous two seasons.

"It's a very important win that gives us points away from home, which is something that was becoming complicated."

Versatile Barcelona star Sergi Roberto echoed his manager's sentiments after the victory.

"The important thing was to win again away from home," he said.

"We were hard done by in Bilbao because we created a lot (of chances).

"Our form away from the Camp Nou has cost us this season, so we're happy."

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
3Real Madrid1283125111427
4Villarreal127322319424
5GironaGirona146352018221
6Mallorca146351312121
7Osasuna136341720-321
8Athletic Bilbao135531913620
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad135351110118
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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