Barcelona held at home as La Liga race remains open

Football Club Barcelona dropped two points against Real Betis after a one-all draw at home in La Liga’s Saturday night late kickoff.

Barcelona failed to increase the gap between them and Real Madrid on the La Liga table to six points after the latter lost to Valencia at home earlier in the day.

The Catalan Giants shared points with Manuel Pellegrini’s resolute Real Betis on the night, the delight of Real Madrid, and the dismay of the joke fans.

Gavi scored the first goal of the match in the seventh minute as he buried the ball into the bottom left corner from a Ferran Torres pass.

However, the lead only lasted 10 minutes as the visitors equalized in the 17th minute. Brazilian defender Natan planted a wonderful header into goal from Giovanni Lo Celso’s corner kick.

The second half was marred by half-chances for both sides as Barcelona dominated for most part of the second half.

French defender Jules Kounde came closest to putting the ball into the back of the net but was denied by Adrian.

The match ended a goal apiece as Barcelona take a four-point lead over Real Madrid.