Betis 1-4 Barcelona: Blaugrana victory marred by Messi injury

Neymar and Pedro scored once
while Cesc Fabregas bagged a
double as the reigning champions
extended their lead at the top of
the Primera Division

Barcelona swept aside Betis 4-1 on
Sunday and go three points clear in La
Liga, though the victory was marred by an
early injury to Lionel Messi .
Messi was taken off in the 21st minute
with a left hamstring problem and
Barcelona subsequently confirmed he
would undergo further tests on Monday,
but the forward's exit had little effect on
Gerardo Martino's side as they cruised to
another comfortable victory.
Neymar opened the scoring in the 36th
minute after combining with Cesc
Fabregas, and Pedro finished a goal all of
his own making a minute later.
Fabregas put the gloss on the scoreline
with goals in the 63rd and 79th minutes,
Jorge Molina's injury-time penalty no
more than a consolation for Betis as
Barcelona took advantage of Atletico
Madrid's draw with Villarreal to extend
the gap at the top of the table.
Both sides made a number of changes
following midweek European games, the
Betis team showing three changes and
Barcelona bringing in six fresh faces.
The hosts started brightly, taking the
game to their illustrious opponents and
Victor Valdes pulled off two superb saves
in the 17th minute.
First, the Spain international denied
Molina from point-blank range after the
striker had got free on the byline, before
rushing along his line to push away Juan
Carlos' firm downward header from six
yards.
A difficult start was made more
problematic for Barcelona when Messi
was withdrawn in the 21st minute after
picking up an ankle injury in the build up
to Carlos' chance.
Neymar then wasted a good opportunity
for the visitors, sending a free header
straight at Guillermo Sara from Dani
Alves' right-wing cross.
The Brazilian atoned for that miss after
Alex Song had threaded an accurate ball
through for Fabregas. The Spaniard
squared for Neymar , who had the
simplest task of tapping home into an
empty net.
Ninety seconds later the leaders went
two up as Pedro picked the ball up inside
his own half, knocked it behind the entire
Betis defence and curled an exquisite
finish inside the far post.
Barcelona almost went three up a minute
before half-time but Neymar's pass was
slightly behind Pedro and the Spaniard
scuffed his effort into the ground and off
target.
Betis started the second half as brightly
as they had the first, Joan Verdu sending
an effort just wide from the edge of the
box before Nono thumped the post with
a rasping drive from 25 yards.
Barcelona responded strongly and Betis
were indebted to Sara for a double save
to deny Neymar as the Brazilian looked to
put the result beyond doubt on the hour
mark.
The visitors did not have to wait long for
a third goal, Fabregas tapping home from
six yards following sumptuous approach
play involving Andres Iniesta and Martin
Montoya.
Fabregas claimed the fourth 15 minutes
later, nodding Alves' cross in off the post,
before Molina sent Valdes the wrong way
from the spot following a foul in the area
by Alves.