'Bitter' Barca unable to fully capitalize after Madrid's shocking loss

Barcelona failed to break down a frantic Real Betis defence as they were held to a 1-1 draw in La Liga on Saturday but still gained ground on Real Madrid who earlier conceded deep into added time to lose 2-1 at home to Valencia.

Barcelona moved four points ahead of Real Madrid atop La Liga. Both teams face Champions League first-leg ties this week. Real visit Arsenal on Tuesday and Barcelona play in Dortmund the following evening.

Barcelona cut open Betis in the seventh minute and Gavi slid the ball past goalkeeper Adrian from inside the six-yard box.

But the hosts were unable to turn a series of lively attacks into goals. Instead the visitors hit back after 16 minutes when centreback Natan Souza escaped the clutches of his defender to head home a Giovani Lo Celso corner.

Barcelona besieged the Betis goal in the second half but were denied by a combination of dogged defending, strong goalkeeping from Adrian and some agonising near misses.

Wojciech Szczesny did not have to make a save until the 88th minute when he turned away a long-range drive by Natan.

With Betis playing for time, Barcelona did not leave themselves exposed to a late counter-attack as they played out a draw that bolstered their lead at the top.

"If we had won we would be further clear, but in the end it's football," Gavi told Movistar. "The draw leaves a bitter taste, because we were unable to take advantage of the chances we had."

The draw lifted Betis to fifth.