FCBARCELONA.CAT

23.09.2008 13:40

Barça v Betis: A tradition of goals

Jesús Carrillo

Since the Spanish League began, FC Barcelona and Betis have played 45 games in the Catalan capital, and these games have produced a remarkable 161 goals, an average of 3.5 a match – and most of them have been scored in the Betis net.

The two clubs met for the first time in 1933, with Barça winning 4-1. The following years also saw Barça collect two more relatively simple home wins, the games ending 5-1 and 4-0.

Seven 4-1 wins

No fewer than seven of Barça’s 34 wins over the Andalusians have been by the score of 4-1. Their biggest margin of victory came in 1960 when their visitors were routed 6-0, and they also hit Betis for six two years later, in 1962, when it all ended 6-1 to FCB.

Only four losses

Barça’s record is astounding against Betis, for in their 45 meetings, their guests from Seville have only been able to claim four wins, and none since 1997/98, when it all ended 1-3. And that game was purely academic, for Louis van Gaal’s side had already clinched the league title. In the last ten years, Betis have managed to get away with two draws, but have not won on any of their trips to the Camp Nou.

The last draw between the sides, in the 2004/05 season, came in the year of Frank Rijkaard’s first championship winning campaign – a spectacular clash that ended 3-3.

Overall record

Globally, Barça have won 34 league games at home to Betis, have drawn seven and lost just four. Overall, the Catalans have bagged 124 goals in those matches, and only conceded 37.