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13.02.2009 12:14
Guardiola unbeaten against Real Betis
David Puig
Josep Guardiola has never tasted defeat in the Ruiz de Lopera stadium in his four visits there as an FC Barcelona player and on Saturday he will look to extend that run when returns as a coach.
The Andalucian outfit are a side that the current Blaugrana trainer always enjoyed playing against during his career and in the seven games that he participated in against them he never lost. With five wins, in both home and away games, and two draws, Guardiola has happy memories of games against Real Betis Balompié.
Successful venue
The Ruiz de Lopera stadium, previously called the Benito
Villamarín, retains some great memories for Guardiola as he has never lost there and can look back
on games such as the 1-5 win in 1995-96 when the so-called Quinta del Mini were playing. Besides
that game, the current coach also helped Barcelona to win 2-4 in 1996-97 and 0-3 in 1998-99.
Victory and a goal
One of the six goals that Guardiola scored for Barça came in the Ruiz de Lopera on January 17, 1999. It was the 18th league game of the season and the visitors won 0-3 with Figo, Luis Enrique and Guardiola all finding the net. It was the last game that the current trainer played against Betis and this Saturday he will go back having not been there for ten years.
First game
Pep Guardiola played in his first game away at Real Betis on January 26, 1994 in the quarter final
of the Copa del Rey and the match ended goalless. Guardiola began the game as a substitute and went
on in the second half to replace Quique Estebaranz. The Blaugrana were knocked out as they lost the
return leg 0-1 in Camp Nou.
