Barcelona had to recover a two-goal deficit to avoid their first defeat since the opening day of the season.
Barca hit back to hold Betis as Valencia drop points
Barcelona had to recover a two-goal deficit to avoid their first defeat since the opening day of the season , while Valencia dropped points at home to Malaga.
Real Betis took the lead against
Barcelona through Alessandro Melli in the 18th minute and former Liverpool winger Mark Gonzalez then made it 2-0 seven minutes later.
Samuel Eto'o pulled one back for Barca on the stroke of half-time before Pep Guardiola brought on substitutes Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry.
Betis defended resolutely in the face of severe pressure but they could not cling on until the final whistle as Eto'o struck again in the 84th minute.
The result nevertheless lifts Betis one place to 13th in the table, with Barca extending their lead over Real Madrid, who play on Sunday, to 13 points.
Valencia, hunting for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, could only draw 1-1 with
Malaga.
David Villa, who scored for Spain against England in midweek, found the target again in the 53rd minute to put Valencia ahead.
Valencia's advantage only lasted six minutes as Raul Albiol turned the ball into his own net to gift surprise package Malaga a point.
Osasuna kept up their encouraging form with a goalless draw against
Deportivo La Coruna.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock at the Municipal de Riazor but Osasuna are now unbeaten in four games and have inched close to a more secure position.
