After a midweek to forget, Barça face Real Betis in a must win encounter at the Camp Nou.

This is must win for two reasons, the first being that Real Madrid now occupy top spot in the Primera División after their dramatic 4-3 victory over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeú on Saturday evening and the second being that the team have a lot to prove to the fans after they called the players "shameless" and "mercenaries" during Friday's training session.

Barcelona head into this game second in the Primera División with 65 points, one point less than Real Madrid who now occupy top spot. Real Betis on the other hand lie in 14th place with exactly 30 points less than Barça.

Team news
Ludovic Giuly is dropped from the squad completly after his uninspiring performance against Getafe on Thursday night which means Santi Ezquerro keeps his place in the squad, but will be unlikely to play any part in the game whatsoever, especially with both Saviola and Gudjohnsen in the squad as well.

Lionel Messi is back after being rested in midweek whilst Victor Valdés will be back in the team after also being rested on Thursday night.

Thiago Motta and Sylvinho also don't make the squad.

Betis coach Luis Fernandez will employ the 4-5-1 formation in a bid to try and stop Barça from dominating the midfield area.

Former AC Milan midfielder Johann Vogell is set to get a rare start alongside Rivera and Miguel Angel.

Squads
Barcelona: Valdés, Jorquera, Puyol, Xavi, Edmílson, Zambrotta, Iniesta, Eto’o, Belletti, Gudjohnsen, Gio, Saviola, Oleguer, Ronaldinho, Deco, Messi, Ezquerro and Thuram

Real Betis: Contreras, Doblas, Ilic, Juanito, Melli, Nano, Fernando Vega, Isidoro, Caffa, Capi, Vogel, Rivera, Assunçao, Fernando, Juande, Miguel Ánel, Edu, Xisco, Robert, Sobis and Odonkor.

Form guide (last 5 games)
Barcelona: W-W-L-W-L
Real Betis: L-D-D-L-D

History
The last encounter between these two clubs was in January at the Estadio Manuel Luiz de Lopera which ended 1-1.

Striker Robert had given Betis a 36th minute lead but a Rafa Márquez goal from a corner on 61 minutes put Barça level and rescued a point for the Blaugrana.

Last season, the two clubs met four times. The first two games came in the Supercopa de España at the start of the season. Barça secured a 3-0 away in Seville but lost the second leg 2-1.

In the league, a Barça team without Ronaldinho thumped Betis again on their own patch, with goals from Mark van Bommel, a double from Samuel Eto'o and Santiago Ezquerro sealing the 1-4 victory.

In the last league meeting between the two clubs at the Camp Nou, Barça put on a irresistible display as they dispatched Betis 5-1. Goals from Henrik Larsson, Samuel Eto'o, Lionel Messi and two own goals from Melli doing the damage.