Barcelona have extended their lead at the top of La Liga to four points, despite being held to a frustrating home draw by a resilient Real Betis side. Under Hansi Flick, the Catalan giants were looking to make it eight straight wins across all competitions, and while they dominated large stretches of the game, they couldn’t find a breakthrough after the early exchanges. Midfielder Gavi gave Barça the perfect start in the 7th minute, latching onto a slick sequence of one-touch passes before slotting in a clever finish from a tight angle. However, Betis hit back just ten minutes later. Defender Natan rose highest to nod in Giovani Lo Celso’s corner, punishing the hosts for a rare lapse in concentration. Barcelona continued to press, and full-back Jules Kounde came close to restoring the lead, but his effort on his weaker foot was denied by a solid stop from Betis keeper Adrian in the second half. The result ended Barça’s impressive seven-game winning streak, while Betis also saw their own run of four victories come to a halt. Forwards Cucho Hernandez and Manchester United loanee Antony couldn’t find the spark that has defined their recent form. Earlier in the day, Real Madrid suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Valencia, with the winning goal coming deep into stoppage time — their first loss to Los Ches at the Mestalla since 2008. Barcelona now turn their attention to the Champions League, where they’ll welcome Borussia Dortmund for the first leg of their quarter-final clash on Wednesday.