Barcelona vs Real Betis Prediction 16.09.2023

• Date: 16/09/2023 
• Competition: La Liga
• KO: 20:00 UTC +1 / 21:00 CEST
• Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys (Barcelona)

La Liga action returns to the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys as Barcelona hosts Real Betis at their temporary home in Catalonia. 

Barcelona vs Real Betis Betting Tips: Home / Over 2.5

Having begun the season with a frustrating 0:0 draw at Getafe, Barcelona have responded well with three successive La Liga victories against Cadiz, Villarreal and Osasuna. 

Scoring at least two goals in all three wins, the Catalan attack is beginning to take shape, with breakthrough star Lamine Yamal impressive in the early stages of the campaign. 

Now back at the less than familiar surroundings of the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, Barcelona will be looking for an 11th win in their last 13 “home” matches since January.

Betis cannot be underestimated, though, with the visitors making a decent start to the new campaign. Manuel Pellegrini´s side have picked up seven points (W2, D1) from a tough opening set of fixtures that included games against Bilbao, Villarreal and Atletico Madrid. 

On their travels, Betis have been very much hot or miss in 2023. Los Verdiblancos have won seven and lost five of their last 14 away league matches over the past nine months. 

In this fixture, Betis tends to struggle, having won just one of their last ten matches against the reigning champions since 2019. Barcelona have won eight of nine league games against the Verdiblancos during that period.

Goals are usually to be expected when these sides meet. Over 2.5 goals were scored in 10 of their last 11 league contests since 2018. Of those 10 games, eight also saw both teams hitting the target.

Ultimately, with Barcelona continuing to look somewhat vulnerable in defence following the departures of stalwarts Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in the summer - The Catalans have conceded four in their last two matches - goals can probably be expected given the history of this fixture.

Still, Barcelona should get the win, so I´m backing Xavi´s men to pick up three points in a match where at least three goals can be expected.