Real Betis 0-5 Barcelona: Player Ratings

Given both sides’ propensity to attack, many expected Barcelona and Real Betis to play out a La Liga classic on Sunday night. After a slow start, the Blaugrana turned up the heat as braces from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez helped them to a 5-0 win, with all the goals coming in the last half hour.

Suspended Betis boss Quique Setien will not be happy with his teams’ capitulation after Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring.

Here are the player ratings from a rather one-sided evening at the Estadio Benito Villamarin:

Real Betis

Antonio Adan – 6/10

The former Real Madrid goalkeeper was barely tested in the first half, but was powerless to stop a blitz from Barcelona after the break.

Javi Garcia – 5/10

Perhaps most at fault for Barcelona being able to pull away with this game, given how much space was afforded to Rakitic for the opening goal. Garcia had patrolled the right-hand side of the defence well, but as the game went on he was caught out of position and tried to play offside while out of sync with his teammates.

Aissa Mandi – 5/10

Another defender who saw his performance desert him as the match progressed. He did well to keep the likes of Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi quiet to begin with, especially because Barcelona tried to press the back three, but he completely lost his way during the last half an hour.

Zouhair Feddal – 5/10

Stayed solid overall, especially in the first half when Betis were able to calm the game down after a frantic opening few minutes. But his game turned on the hour mark when he was too slow to push out in what had been a very organised back line for Messi’s first goal, allowing the Argentine a free run.

He was then booked for a silly coming together with Suarez and again gave the ball away for Messi to make it 4-0.

Francis – 6/10

Betis threatened early on and were in the game for about an hour because of their play out wide. Francis was not afraid to give Jordi Alba a taste of his own medicine, but perhaps that contributed to his side’s downfall in the end, although he began to play in a more disciplined manner as Barcelona began to take control of the game.

Fabian Ruiz – 5/10

At the start of the match, it looked as though Barcelona were missing the absent Andres Iniesta and part of that was because of the discipline from Fabian. The visitors lacked any sort of spark in the first half, but as soon as they stepped up, Betis appeared to surrender all over the pitch.

Andres Guardado – 6/10

It looked as though the Mexican had set the tone for the attack-minded hosts with a good effort from distance in the third minute, but he was shackled after that. Messi began to pick up pockets of space behind and in front of him, and Rakitic began to make penetrative runs in the second half, one of which led to the opening goal.

Riza Durmisi – 7/10

It is easy to see why Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a move for the Danish wing-back. While Betis weren’t at their scintillating best going forward, Durmisi looked to support whenever he could, causing Sergi Roberto and Nelson Semedo all kinds of problems when he did.

Both sides looked to go after their opponents in wide areas, and like Francis, Durmisi looked to take risks.

Joaquin – 6/10

The 36-year-old has shown no sign of slowing down despite his age, and he again looked sprightly here. He was allowed to roam across the pitch in behind the two forward players, and looked as though he could cause some problems in the early stages.

As soon as Betis looked to contain the league leaders, though, his game suffered, just like his attacking counterparts

Cristian Tello – 5/10

Once nicknamed ‘the bullet’ by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola, having started his career at the Camp Nou, Tello was frustratingly quiet. He has pace to burn, but he rarely got the space to use it, though he and Sergio Leon did try to pen the Barça backline in when they got the chance.

Sergio Leon – 6/10

Again, like Joaquin and Tello, Sergio Leon was very much isolated overall and really struggled to make use of his pace. He did break free and linked up with Francis when he got the chance but was unable to test Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Substitutes:

Ruben Castro – 5/10

The experienced striker came off the bench with 17 minutes remaining looking to add to his eight goals in 14 games against Barcelona, but the game was done by then.

Ryad Boudebouz – 4/10

A lot was expected of the Algerian playmaker when he arrived from Montpellier in the summer, but he has failed to make an impact so far, as was the case in this game.

Victor Camarasa – N/A

Only came on with two minutes remaining, and couldn't affect the game.

Barcelona

The Barcelona side that tore through Real Betis

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 7/10

The German goalkeeper will not have too many easier games. Because the Betis attackers were struggling so much to get forward, ter Stegen had very little to do and that is why he cannot be rated higher.

Jordi Alba – 7/10

Another typical Jordi Alba performance, without the concrete impact. The left-back got forward whenever he could and continued his great linkup with Messi; but he could play even better than he did

Thomas Vermaelen – 6/10

More injury trouble could harm Vermaelen’s form and that would be tough for the Belgian to take because he has been so solid lately. But he lost the ball a few times early on and will face a wait to get back into the side after being replaced by Samuel Umtiti just before halftime.

Gerard Pique – 7/10

A typically solid game from Pique, but nothing else is to be expected. As Sergio Leon and Tello pushed up against him, he was calmness personified and his ability on the ball shone through. Like ter Stegen, Barcelona’s defensive talisman will have tougher challenges, but he did not put a foot wrong all game.

Nelson Semedo – 7/10

Semedo needed a big display because Sergi Roberto, Barcelona’s Mr Versatile and the man who makes any system work for Ernesto Valverde, has been making the right-back spot his own. But a tactical reshuffle saw him push up the field and Semedo was able to showcase his talent, particularly his blistering pace.

Sergio Busquets – 7/10

It is rare that Sergio Busquets makes the headlines, but that is the biggest compliment that can be paid to the best defensive midfielder in the world. His job is understated, but he is missed whenever he isn’t there; the interception for Messi’s first goal showed what he brings to the game, winning the ball high up the pitch and playing a simple but effective pass.

Ivan Rakitic – 8/10

Rakitic opened the scoring for Barcelona

At a time when the game was crying out for penetration of some kind from midfield, Rakitic stepped up. Playing alongside Busquets in a midfield two, the Croatian was able to push on as the match went on, and he did so at a crucial time by latching onto Suarez’s pass to finish coolly before returning the favour and grabbing an assist for the Uruguayan.

As the game went on, his impact became greater and he was certainly one of Barcelona’s standout players in end.

Andre Gomes – 6/10

This was yet another opportunity for Gomes to shine, especially in the absence of Iniesta, but perhaps, the system didn’t suit him.

The Portuguese midfielder lined up on the left of a midfield four and was not able to get the space he needed to impact the game. There were a few nice touches here and there, but nothing to write home about; it is clear his days as a Barcelona player are numbered.

Sergi Roberto – 8/10

Valverde clearly loves what Sergi Roberto brings to his side and it is not hard to see why. He played on the right of midfield and his energy, work-rate and crossing ability were fantastic, but he wasn’t afraid to cut inside and make runs from deep himself, even having a chance to open the scoring in the first half.

Manchester City and Chelsea have been credited with an interest in him, but Sergi Roberto has a vital role to play in Valverde’s Barça.

Lionel Messi – 9/10

The first half frustration was clear for Messi and he responded in the only way he knows how. The Barcelona number ten is not necessarily at his best when he’s scoring, but rather when he is picking the ball up from deep and dictating the play through the pitch.

He doubled his side’s lead within minutes of it being established and from then on it was like a training game for him, with another brace being added to his tally as well as an assist for Suarez's goal. His impact was typified by a pirouette around three or four Betis players in his own half late on; in the end, it was definitely vintage Messi.

Luis Suarez – 9/10

Retru — Returning to his belligerent best

Like Messi, Suarez’s impact grew after a quiet start. The striker had been isolated and easily patrolled by the Betis defence before the break, but he ended up making a mockery of those same players and netting a brace, including a typically sweet volley from a Rakitic cross.

His two assists show just how much of an impact he has in a wider sense, but he is there to score goals and he has eight in seven games.

Substitutes:

Samuel Umtiti – 7/10

Enjoyed a solid return to action after injury; a vital player for Barcelona to have back in their side.

Paulinho – 6/10

Came on at a time that could have been crucial had it not been for Betis’ capitulation, added further power to the midfield when he came on.

Gerard Deulofeu – N/A

Expected to leave this summer, and although he missed a chance towards the end, he does not seem to have a big role to play at the club.

Edited by Aakanksh Sanketh