Barcelona, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Barcelona will attempt to maintain its position atop the La Liga table on Sunday when the club heads to the Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera to take on a struggling Real Betis side.
The Catalans enter the weekend on a three-game winning run in league play, a streak that is a far cry from Real Betis' five-match winless run.
Barcelona built upon its rich vein of form by earning a 3-1 win over AC Milan in Champions League play at Camp Nou on Wednesday. The home side turned out a commanding display in the opening period and went on to claim a two-goal lead thanks to Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, but the Catalans took their foot off the pedal in the second half and failed to add to the margin.
"There are times when we feel really good, playing great football, like in the first half against Milan," said Barcelona midfield maestro Xavi. "But we have to play like that for the full 90 minutes."
Real Betis comes into the match third from bottom in La Liga on nine points for the season, but the club will be riding high after picking up a vital win in Europa League play on Thursday.
A host of other Spanish clubs are also coming off of European victories on Sunday as Valencia, which claimed a 3-2 win over St. Gallen in the Europa League on Thursday, will welcome Valladolid to the Mestalla.
Sevilla played to a 1-1 draw with Liberec in Europa League play on Thursday, and the Spanish side will look to snap a two-game slide in league play when it heads to the Estadi Cornella-El Prat to face Espanyol, while Atletico Madrid, fresh off of its 4-0 demolition of Austria Vienna in Champions League action on Wednesday, will take on Villarreal at El Madrigal.
Third-place Real Madrid will hope to apply more pressure on Atletico and Barcelona when it hosts Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu on Saturday, while last- place Rayo Vallecano will look to put an end to its three-game slide when it heads to the Estadio Balaidos to face Celta Vigo.
Also on Saturday, Elche heads to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez to face Getafe and Levante takes on Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.
On Friday, Granada downed Malaga, 3-1, behind a second-half hat trick from Youssef El Arabi, while Almeria topped Osasuna, 1-0, with Rodri's 18th-minute goal holding up.
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