LaLiga Leaders Barcelona Held to 1-1 Draw by Resilient Real Betis

Barcelona's nine-match winning streak in LaLiga came to an end as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis, with Gavi's early goal ultimately being cancelled out by Natan's header.

Barcelona's momentum was halted as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis, ending their streak of nine consecutive league victories. The Blaugrana had been riding high after Real Madrid's surprise defeat to Valencia, but their winning ways came to an abrupt end against the resilient visitors.

The match got off to a blistering start, with Barcelona taking the lead in just seven minutes through Gavi's clinical finish. The young midfielder's shot found its way into the bottom corner, giving the hosts an early advantage. Gavi's celebration was muted, however, as he chose not to rub it in against his former club.

Gavi's goal proved to be short-lived, as Real Betis equalized just 10 minutes later. Natan powered a header home from Giovani Lo Celso's corner, restoring parity and silencing the Camp Nou crowd. The draw marked a significant result for Real Betis, who avoided defeat in an away head-to-head against Barcelona for the first time since December 2021.

Despite Natan's equalizing goal, Barcelona continued to apply pressure, with Ferran Torres diverting a high-quality chance just wide of the post. The visitors' goalkeeper, Adrian, made a crucial save to deny Lamine Yamal, as Betis dug deep to withstand the Blaugrana's attacking onslaught. Adrian's strong stop was a testament to his shot-stopping ability, and it kept his team in the game.

Full Time#BarçaBetis pic.twitter.com/lqDmzcFCKD

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 5, 2025

The Barcelona pressure persisted into the second half, with Adrian called upon to make another key save. This time, he reacted quickly at his near post to keep out Jules Kounde's left-footed strike. Gavi's fizzing shot then deflected just inches wide of Adrian's right post, as Hansi Flick's team continued to push for a winner. The Barcelona boss introduced several players off the bench, including Raphinha and Fermin Lopez, in a bid to find a decisive goal.

Despite the introduction of fresh legs, Barcelona were unable to find a winner. Fermin Lopez's late effort was saved by Adrian, and Wojciech Szczesny was forced into a rare piece of action to push away Natan's long-range drive. In the end, the match ended 1-1, with Betis earning a hard-fought draw that extends their unbeaten run to seven league games. The result sees Betis move up to fifth in the table, while Barcelona miss the chance to go six points clear of Real Madrid, instead maintaining a four-point lead and their unbeaten record in 2025.