Robert Lewandowski and Barcelona look to seek out their spark on Saturday in opposition to Actual Betis, with the Catalans limping in the direction of the La Liga title.
Xavi Hernández’s facet are 11 factors clear on the prime of the desk, closing in on their first league win since 2019, however have just one win of their final 4 video games.
Barcelona had been crushed 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, with Lewandowski ending a four-match scoreless run, however his objective wasn’t sufficient to assist his group take something residence from Madrid.
The striker had a spectacular begin to the season and is the highest scorer within the division with 18 objectives, however has solely 5 in LaLiga in 2023.
“We’re in an excellent place, now we’ve two video games at residence and we’ve to attempt to play properly and take into consideration what we’ve to do to play higher in these seven video games that we’ve left,” Lewandowski mentioned after the defeat in Vallecas.
“We did not have the endurance to create probabilities and create hazard. We’d like extra calm.”
The Polish striker has had fewer probabilities because the World Cup resulting from accidents to a few of his key teammates, together with Ousmane Dembele, who returns on Saturday.
The French winger has been sidelined since January with a thigh damage, whereas midfielder Pedri returned from damage final weekend in opposition to Atlético Madrid.
Pedri created an excellent probability for Lewandowski in opposition to Rayo early on, however the ahead shot too near Stole Dimitrievski.
“Pedri will enhance the group and the strikers,” Xavi mentioned final weekend.
“If Robert had two or three probabilities, now he’ll have 4 or 5.”
Lewandowski is 4 objectives forward of Actual Madrid striker Karim Benzema within the race to complete as Spain’s “Pichichi” prime scorer.
Nonetheless, the 34-year-old has the bottom objective tally for a prime scorer at this stage of the season since Madrid’s Ruud van Nistelrooy within the 2006-07 season.
Actual Betis arrive on the Camp Nou with the purpose of giving Lewandowski one other disappointing night in entrance of objective and attempting to maintain his hopes of qualifying for the Champions League alive.
Manuel Pellegrini’s group, sixth, drew 0-0 with Actual Sociedad on Tuesday, leaving six factors behind the Basques, present occupants of fourth place.
With Barcelona wanting susceptible, the journey to the Camp Nou is an effective alternative for Betis to select up factors on a sometimes troublesome away journey.
Participant to observe: Marco Asensio
Actual Madrid winger Asensio has been in good kind in latest weeks. The 27-year-old is out of contract on the finish of the season and is enjoying on a brand new contract. He has 4 objectives and three assists in his final seven appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions.
key statistics
10 – In-form Atlético striker Antoine Griezmann leads the highest flight in assists
19 – Midfielder Pedri, in prime kind, has performed extra by way of balls than every other participant
53 – Regardless of his harrowing evening in opposition to Girona in midweek, Eder Militao leads La Liga in blocks
