Gavi’s Early Strike Not Enough as Betis Hold Firm to End Barça’s Nine-Game League Domination
Barcelona’s red-hot run of nine straight LaLiga victories came to an abrupt halt on Saturday as Real Betis fought hard to secure a 1-1 draw at the Camp Nou—their first away result against the Catalan giants since December 2021.
Fresh off Real Madrid’s shock loss to Valencia, Barça came out swinging in a clash between two of Spain’s in-form sides. It took just seven minutes for young star Gavi to break the deadlock, slotting home a clinical finish from Ferran Torres’ precise pass. The 19-year-old, a product of Betis’ youth system, respectfully refrained from celebrating against his former club.
But the hosts’ joy was short-lived. Just 10 minutes later, Betis defender Natan rose highest to thump a header past Marc-André ter Stegen from Giovani Lo Celso’s corner, marking his first LaLiga goal in style. Despite the equalizer, Barcelona kept piling on the pressure—Torres squandered a golden chance, and Betis goalkeeper Adrián made a crucial save to deny teenage sensation Lamine Yamal before halftime.
The second half followed a similar script, with Barça relentlessly searching for a winner. Adrián, the former Liverpool keeper, stood tall again, denying Jules Kounde and watching nervously as Gavi’s fierce strike whistled just wide. Late substitutes Raphinha and Fermín López nearly made an impact, but Adrián’s heroics—including a sharp stop from López in the dying minutes—sealed a hard-earned point for Betis.
While the visitors extended their unbeaten league run to seven games, climbing to fifth place, Barcelona missed a chance to go six points clear of rivals Real Madrid. Instead, the Blaugrana will have to settle for a four-point cushion at the top—but their unbeaten streak in 2025 remains intact. For Betis, this was a statement performance, proving they can compete with the best even on the biggest stage.
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