MADRID, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman needs to see an improvement when his side plays Betis in their last game before the international break on Saturday.
Barca have failed to win any of their league games since the last break, taking just one point from a possible nine with a series of disappointing performances that have seen them slip to below halfway in La Liga.
Betis promise to provide another tough test of a side that has lacked spark in midfield adn in attack where Koeman has failed to decide his best starting 11 and is clearly missing the invention that the injured Philippe Coutinho can provide.
The good news for Koeman is the form showed by Marc Andre Ter Stegen in his return in goal in Barca's 2-1 win at home to Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday night, although he must have been worried that Barca's midfield and defense allowed the German so many chances to shine against a theoretically weaker rival.
Ter Stegen will be up against his predecessor in the Barca goal with Claudo Bravo completing his move from Manchester City to Betis over the summer.
Betis could also include veteran winger Joaquin Sanchez in their side and there is no love lost between Sanchez and Koeman after the two coincided during Koeman's unhappy spell at Valencia.
"I wouldn't employ Koeman even as a utility worker ... I am not going to say hello to him and he won't greet me either," commented the player in a radio interview in Spain earlier this week.
Koeman will probably bring Clement Lenglet back into the side to face Betis after experimenting with Frenkie de Jong in central defense in midweek. That would see De Jong push back into midfield with Sergio Busquets likely to drop out.
Meanwhile Antoine Griezmann could find himself back on the bench with Pedri, Ansu Fati and perhaps Ousmane Dembele accompanying Leo Messi in attack as the Argentinean looks for his first goal from open play this season. Enditem
