Yeah Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Viva Er Beti Manque Lopera! Pichi Betis 2-1 Barcelona: FT Report SEVILLE, November 14 (Primera Liga) - League leaders Barcelona warmed up for next weekend's mouth-watering clash with Real Madrid in the worst possible way by slipping to their first defeat of the season at Real Betis. The Catalan giants totally dominated the opening 45 minutes at the Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera but were undone by second-half goals from Luis Edu and Ricardo Oliveira. Gerard Lopez gave Frank Rijkaard's side hope with a 71st-minute header but it was not enough to save their 10-game unbeaten start to the campaign. Madrid's 6-1 thrashing of Albacete earlier in the evening had cut Barca's lead at the top of La Liga to four points, and has added extra spice to next Saturday's eagerly anticipated meeting at the Nou Camp. Barcelona made a slow start in Seville and were almost undone by Oliveira inside five minutes. The Brazilian forward, deployed as a lone striker by coach Lorenzo Serra Ferrer, teased Barca defender Carles Puyol before firing over a low cross which narrowly evaded the arriving Joaquin. But the visitors composed themselves and slowly began to assert their authority on the game. Ronaldinho and Deco were pulling the strings in midfield and Rijkaard's side came close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute. Ludovic Giuly's dangerous right-wing cross was powerfully met by Rafael Marquez but Betis keeper Antonio Doblas was equal to the challenge. Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o, the Primera Liga's leading scorer, was then involved in the move that almost put his side in front. The former Mallorca forward rolled the ball along the edge of the area to Ronaldinho, who fooled the defence with a clever step over, but Marquez was again unable to convert the chance. Benjamin Zarandona crashed a 25-yard strike wide of the post as the hosts attempted to get into the game but Barca continued to dominate possession. Ronaldinho squandered two golden opportunities to put give his side the lead just before half-time. Firstly heading straight at Doblas from six-yards after another wicked delivery from Giuly, and then again failed to beat the Betis keeper with a similar effort from Abella Damia's centre. Joaquin forced a world-class save from Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes in the 41st minute but the half eventually ended goalless. It seemed set up for Barcelona to come out and steamroller their opponents in the second-half but they surprisingly fell behind three minutes after the break. The away side failed to clear properly after breaking up a Betis attack and the ball broke to Joaquin on the right of the penalty area. The hugely talented youngster provided a pinpoint cross to the back-post which was expertly converted by Edu for his fourth goal of the season. Marcos Assuncao then wasted a good chance to double the lead as Barca struggled to contain their revitalised opponents. The Catalan giants poured forward in the final half-hour, desperate to preserve their unbeaten run, but continually left themselves open on the counter-attack. Oliveira drew another fine save from Valdes following a swift break by Betis, before Deco scuffed a good chance wide at the other end. But with 22 minutes remaining Oliveira wrapped up the points for the hosts. Puyol made an uncharacteristic error when he failed to deal with a routine long-ball, leaving the Brazilian to round Valdes and slot the ball through the legs of the stranded Marquez. Substitute Gerard gave the league leaders hope when he headed home a Deco cross in the 71st minute but they were unable to find the equaliser.
Actually Larson cheated & dragged the keeper to the ground. A foul should have been called & the goal disallowed. Vamos Betis!!!