A special but bittersweet anniversary for Gavi: Barça-Betis' hot takeaways

BarcelonaA tired Barça after an intense week tries until the end, but cannot get past a draw (1-1) against Betis. Here are some quick notes from the match.

Pedri was not enough. It wasn't an easy week. The team, with barely any time to prepare for the match, was hosting a Betis side that has changed since strengthening in the winter transfer window. After the battle at the Metropolitano, where Barça had accumulated a great deal of fatigue, it was time to host one of the most in-form opponents in La Liga (despite the absence of the suspended Isco). The Andalusians, coming off a clean week of matches, put up a fight against a Barça that was inaccurate and, at times, tired. With the team's play more stagnant than usual, they needed the spark of their best players. With Raphinha on the bench and Lamine Yamal looking less impressive, Pedri carried the team on his shoulders. It wasn't enough. Flick protected him in the final minutes.

Missing Iñigo Martínez. Ronald Araujo failed in the one area where he shouldn't have been able to: defensive solidity. Because that's what the Uruguayan is: a great defender, a winner of battles. In short, a winner of duels. And he opened up. On the corner that Betis used to equalize, he didn't jump high enough to defend Natán, who finished too comfortably. It wasn't the time to let his guard down. We can't ask Araujo to be fine with the ball or break the lines with his pass, as Cubarsí or Iñigo do, but we must demand that he be firm in his main job: defending. The Basque center-back's absence due to a minor glute injury in his left leg ended up weighing too heavily on him.

The Bernabéu is fed up with Vinícius. The most important thing this Saturday was to get the three points somehow and open a six-point gap on Real Madrid. It wasn't to be. The frustrated expressions on the Barça players' faces made that clear at the end of the match against Betis. Finally, the Whites won't be left feeling burned. It was rushing that led Real Madrid to concede. the defeat against Valencia in added time at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Real Madrid fans, who booed Vinícius for missing a penalty awarded by Mbappé, which was not without controversy, are starting to get fed up with the Brazilian and his team's comings and goings.

Gavi's debut in the League. The Andalusian midfielder celebrated his first La Liga goal of the season. His third this season. It was a special campaign for him, as he returned in January after a long knee injury that kept him out for almost a year. Although Olmo—now injured—has won him the starting eleven, Flick knew how to play him with ease. His goal against Betis was full of symbolism: it was his 100th La Liga game at just 20 years old (and he already looks like one of the veterans!). Of course, he didn't celebrate. Before arriving at La Masia, he was 11 years old when he started in the Betis youth academy. For him, respect for Betis is a non-negotiable commandment. It's a shame the goal wasn't enough to win.