The clash between Real Betis and FC Barcelona on Saturday, December 7, valid for matchday 17 of LaLiga EA Sports, promises to be an exciting duel. Why? Among other reasons, there is a point of special interest: the possibility that Vitor Roque faces, for the first time, the blue and garnet team if Manuel Pellegrini decides to give him minutes.
It should be noted that Vitor Roque is still a player of Barcelona, but for this 2024-25 season he was loaned to Real Betis, where he has had more opportunities to see action and has begun to demonstrate his worth as a scorer. In 18 matches played this season, he has scored a total of five goals, getting closer to the image of a 'killer' in the area that he once showed at Athletico Paranaense, but did not have the chance to demonstrate in the Barcelona team. In the Catalan team, the player from Timóteo had few opportunities under the direction of Xavi Hernández and did not even participate in an official match with Hansi Flick.
With this in mind, it is not surprising to think that this match is particularly attractive for Vitor Roque. Despite being part of Barcelona, the Brazilian forward seems to be delighted with his new stage at the 'verdiblanco' club, where he is feeling like a footballer again and has found significant appreciation, especially for the affection that the Betis fans have shown him from the beginning in his new adventure at the Benito Villamarín.
Vitor Roque and the expectation of scoring a goal against Barcelona
Recently, Vitor Roque gave an interview to 'Gol TV', where he expressed his feelings regarding this match. In that conversation, 'Tigrinho' showed deep respect for Barcelona and stated that, if he scores a goal, he would not celebrate exuberantly: "If I score a goal, I will not celebrate it".
However, this does not mean that Vitor Roque, currently one of the 'Pichichis' of Real Betis, being just behind Gio Lo Celso with six goals and tied with another former Barcelona player like Ez Abde, will not continue to seek the goal with determination. On the contrary, as an exercise in professionalism, he will remain committed to shaking the nets and hopes to score "if it is God's will, as it is the result of hard work throughout the week".
At this point, it will be interesting to see if Vitor Roque will fulfill the 'law of the ex' and manage to score against a Barcelona that has been criticized on more than one occasion for its management of the forward's brief stint at the club. Despite the initial excitement of joining the blue and garnet team, rejecting more lucrative financial offers from other star clubs, the former player of 'Furacão' failed to adapt to the pace of European play and particularly to the Barça system. This relegated him in the team's hierarchy, with players like Robert Lewandowski, who has proven to be the undisputed starter in his position this season, and other alternatives like Marc Guiu, who went to Chelsea, and even Pau Víctor, to whom Hansi Flick showed more confidence than to Vitor Roque.