Good evening everybody and welcome to another MARCA in English live blog, this time taking you through the Copa del Rey clash between Barcelona and Real Betis at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
Fresh off their triumphant performance in the Supercopa de Espana, where they overwhelmed Real Madrid in a dominant 5-2 victory, the Blaugrana are riding high after winning the first trophy under Hansi Flick which highlighted their ability to dominate even when down to 10 men for an extended period.
Despite this momentum, Barcelona‘s recent home form has been shaky. The Catalan giants have suffered three consecutive home losses across competitions since their Champions League triumph against Brest in November. Wednesday’s match offers an opportunity to restore their dominance at home.
Notably, Barcelona has enjoyed significant success in recent home meetings with Betis, securing commanding 4-0 and 5-0 victories in their last two encounters at the venue. The visitors narrowly edged past Huesca in the previous round, with Isco’s goal proving decisive. However, their recent LaLiga form has been lackluster, highlighted by a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Real Valladolid.
Betis has struggled on the road, with three losses in their last four away league matches
Barcelona vs Betis LIVE – Latest updates
Barcelona vs Betis possible lineups
Injuries have affected Barcelona’s squad, with Marc-André ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, and Inigo Martínez sidelined. Goalkeeper Inaki Peña is expected to replace Wojciech Szczesny, who is suspended following his red card in the Supercopa final.
Real Betis will miss key players like Giovani Lo Celso, Hector Bellerín, and Chimy Ávila due to injuries. Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque may feature prominently for Betis, adding an intriguing subplot to the matchup.
?Barcelona possible starting XI: Pena; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Olmo, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Real Betis possible starting XI: Vieites; Ruibal, Llorente, Bartra, Perraud; Altimira, Cardoso; Ruibal, Isco, Ezzalzouli; Roque?
Where to watch Barcelona vs Betis?
For football fans eager to catch the Copa del Rey clash between Barcelona and Betis, the match will be accessible through different channels in the USA and the UK.
In the United States, viewers can tune in to ESPN+, which holds exclusive broadcasting rights for the Copa del Rey matches. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, the match will not be available on TV.
What time does Barcelona vs Betis start?
The eagerly anticipated Copa del Rey match between Barcelona and Betis is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 CET local time in Spain.
Viewers on the US East Coast can tune in at 15:00 ET for the live action. For those on the West Coast, the match starts at 12:00 PT.
Football enthusiasts in the UK can catch the game starting at 20:00 GMT.
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