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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
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15AlavesAlaves134181422-813
16Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
17Getafe13175811-310
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid132381025-159
20Valencia11146817-97


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