FC Barcelona vs Real Betis: A match to confirm the feelings from the Supercup

FC Barcelona returns this Wednesday to Montjuïc after a great start to 2025 in which the team led by Hansi Flick has counted all their appearances as victories and has officially inaugurated their trophy cabinet this season. The blue and burgundy team will host Real Betis (21:00 CEST) with unbeatable feelings after the historic thrashing of Real Madrid in the Supercup final, seeking their passage to the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey for the third consecutive season.

The Barça has overcome the slump of the last month of competition in 2025, regaining the brilliant play and decisiveness that characterized the team in the first third of the 2024-25 season. The thrashing against Barbastro (0-4) put the Catalans in the round of 16 of the Cup, where they await a Betis that comes from defeating Huesca in the round of 32 with a solitary goal from Isco Alarcón (0-1). The 'verdiblancos' also had to face Génova (1-6) and Sant Andreu (1-3) in the two previous phases of the tournament.

However, Manuel Pellegrini's team arrives in Catalonia with less than ideal feelings. On Saturday, the team lost narrowly at Valladolid (1-0), a match where the Andalusians could not overturn Kike Pérez's initial goal despite fielding their best eleven. Barça, on the other hand, confidently defeated Athletic (0-2) and Real Madrid (2-5) in Arabia to lift the first trophy of the Flick era.

Regaining consistency in Montjuïc, a pending task for Barça

Beyond the extraordinary image presented by Barça in the Supercup, the team is clear that the challenge on Wednesday will not allow for any carelessness. The blue and burgundy team stumbled in La Liga against the 'verdiblancos' (2-2) on December 7 at the Benito Villamarín, after a second half in which the locals were superior, although Ferran Torres came very close to giving the Catalans the victory at the end. Diao's goal in the 90+4' made the score just after a gray afternoon for Hansi Flick's men.

In addition to this precedent, the Catalans must focus on regaining consistency in Montjuïc. Barça has lost their last three home matches against Las Palmas (1-2), Leganés (0-1), and Atlético de Madrid (1-2). Despite the clear superiority of the blue and burgundy team in all three matches, mistakes in the opponent's area and fragility at the back cost the team dearly. In fact, the Catalans have not won at Lluís Companys since November 26, against Brest (3-0 in the Champions League).

Prior to the match against Las Palmas, the team had accumulated 7 consecutive victories at Montjuïc (5 in La Liga and 2 in the Champions League), showing a superiority and decisiveness very similar to that of the Clásico in Arabia. With regained confidence and spirits high, it is time to make another strong statement and push forward to continue advancing in the Cup before returning to action in La Liga next Saturday against the always tricky Getafe (in Madrid).

Barça has not fallen in the round of 16 of the Cup since 2022

The history against Betis also gives Barça some peace of mind ahead of the Cup clash. The 'verdiblancos' have not defeated the blue and burgundy team since December 4, 2021 (0-1, with a goal from Juanmi), in a match corresponding to matchday 16 of La Liga 21-22. That season, the first with Xavi Hernández at the helm, was also the last in which the Catalans were eliminated in the round of 16 of the Cup.

The blue and burgundy executioner was Athletic (3-2), who prevailed at San Mamés in extra time. Ferran and Pedri scored for Barça, while Iker Muniain (double) and the currently injured central defender of Barça, Iñigo Martínez, scored for the Basques. Returning to Betis, the last time the Andalusians crossed paths with the blue and burgundy team in the tournament was in 2010-11, with an aggregate score favorable to Pep Guardiola's team of 6-3.

Even with the two-legged format for each round, Barça won the first match at Camp Nou with a 'manita' (5-0). Leo Messi (hat-trick), Pedro Rodríguez, and Seydou Keita sealed the tie. In the return leg at Benito Villamarín, the 'verdiblancos' salvaged their honor with a 3-1 victory. Messi, again, scored the only goal for a Barça that would end up as runners-up that season (0-1 in the final against Real Madrid). Previously, Barcelona and Betis faced each other in the final of 1997 (blue and burgundy victory in extra time, 3-2), as well as in the quarter-finals of the 84-85 and 93-94 seasons, both ties favorable to the Andalusians (4-3 and 1-0).

Technical details of the match

• All match information: FC Barcelona - Real Betis
• Competition: Copa del Rey 2024-25
• Squad: List of called players
• Possible line-ups: The XI of Barça and Betis
• Stadium: Olympic Lluís Companys de Montjuïc
• Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez (Murcian Committee)
• Schedules and television: When and where to watch the match - Worldwide guide
• Tickets: Buy tickets to see Barça vs Betis