• Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, centre, in action against Betis’ German Pezzella. Jose Manuel Vidal / EPA
    Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic, centre, in action against Betis’ German Pezzella. Jose Manuel Vidal / EPA
  • Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic celebrates with Jordi Alba after scoring against Real Betis. Marcelo del Pozo / Reuters
    Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic celebrates with Jordi Alba after scoring against Real Betis. Marcelo del Pozo / Reuters
  • Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has a header saved during La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on April 30, 2016 in Seville, Spain. Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
    Barcelona’s Lionel Messi has a header saved during La Liga match between Real Betis Balompie and Barcelona at Estadio Benito Villamarin on April 30, 2016 in Seville, Spain. Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
  • Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta and Real Betis’ Alvaro Cejudo in action. Marcelo del Pozo / Reuters
    Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta and Real Betis’ Alvaro Cejudo in action. Marcelo del Pozo / Reuters
  • Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Betis and Barcelona at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Sevilla on April 30, 2016. Cristina Quicler / AFP
    Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Betis and Barcelona at the Benito Villamarin stadium in Sevilla on April 30, 2016. Cristina Quicler / AFP
  • Heiko Westermann, right, of Real Betis tackles Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona during La Liga match at Estadio Benito Villamarin on April 30, 2016 in Seville, Spain. Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
    Heiko Westermann, right, of Real Betis tackles Ivan Rakitic of Barcelona during La Liga match at Estadio Benito Villamarin on April 30, 2016 in Seville, Spain. Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
  • Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, right, competes for the ball with German Pezzella of Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarin on April 30, 2016 in Seville, Spain. Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
    Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, right, competes for the ball with German Pezzella of Real Betis at Estadio Benito Villamarin on April 30, 2016 in Seville, Spain. Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Football

Barcelona within striking distance of La Liga title following win – in pictures

Jake Badger

May 01, 2016

  • English
  • Arabic

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique rejected suggestions his team had under-performed in their 2-0 win at Real Betis, which saw the Catalans move to within two wins of retaining the Primera Liga title.

Barca played the final 55 minutes of the game with an extra man after Betis defender Heiko Westermann was sent off for two bookings, and Barca’s opening goal from Ivan Rakitic arrived after a misunderstanding between Betis defender German Pezzella and goalkeeper Antonio Adan.

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