Betis 2-3 Barcelona Player Ratings: Brilliant Messi cameo

10:55pm on Sunday 7th February 2021
By Paul Macdonald

Lionel Messi came off the bench to provide a scintillating 30-minute cameo and change the game for Barcelona, who triumphed at Real Betis 3-2.

He immediately equalised just after coming on, then played a key role in forcing Victor Ruiz to score an own goal. The defender levelled things us but another sub, Trincao, fired a brilliant winner to keep Barcelona in the title race, but only just.

Real Betis - Barcelona: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats

But which players stood out in the match?

✔️ GOOD PERFORMANCE

Lionel Messi: 7.5

Lionel Messi didn't even come onto the pitch until the 57th minute. By the 59th minute, he had equalised.

Barca looked completely toothless prior to his arrival, creating virtually nothing, but the Argentine collected the ball on the edge of the area and smashed into the bottom corner with his trusty left foot.

And five minutes after that his glorious reverse pass through to Jordi Alba allowed the full-back to force an own goal from Victor Ruiz. Even in cameos, Messi is a standout performer.

❌ POOR PERFORMANCE

Oscar Mingueza: 6.0

Mingueza has been preferred at right-back in recent weeks but lacks the defensive nous and the attacking verve to perform a proper role in Barcelona's system.

He doesn't offer enough in the final third to provide the type of attacking creativity Barca teams have so often had, while defensively he had a difficult time dealing with Betis' mobile forward players.

All in all, Mingueza has been fortunate to be promoted into the first team, and performances such as this question how long he will remain there.

⭐ STAR MAN

Ousmane Dembele: 7.5

Dembele just needs to make more of a direct impact on scorelines and prove his worth, because most of his all-round play is getting better with each passing week.

Here he had the chance to score in the second half, but his lobbed effort forced a great save from Joel Robles. He provided quite a straightforward assist to Messi at the edge of the area, but his blistering pace gave Betis a difficult evening throughout.

He completed a huge five dribbles and had seven touches inside the area. If Dembele's decision-making improves, the rest of his game seems to be in place. He just needs things to fall, find his confidence and grow into the player Barca paid so much money for.

Real Betis - Barcelona: Player Ratings, Match Stats, Player Stats