Good evening and welcome to Eurosport's LIVE coverage of the Spanish Liga fixture between Real Betis and Barcelona. We'll bring you all the action as it happens at the Benito Villamarin. Kick off is at 20:00 GMT.

Of course, while Barcelona’s recent form has improved there is still the matter of the presidential election lingering in the background. The decision day was postponed from January to March due to Covid.

What a difference the introduction of Messi off the bench has made. Barcelona look a completelt different team with the Argentine on the pitch. Real Betis can't handle him.

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Real Betis 1 Barcelona 2 (70 mins - Victor Ruiz OG). Barcelona have turned this game around! Messi threaded Alba in behind, he squared the pass for Griezmann, who fluffed his opportunity. However, the ball bounced off the legs of Ruiz behind him and over his own goal line. Unfortunate.

Dembele was through! Griezmann played a wonderful reverse pass in for Dembele, but Robles makes the save to prevent the Barcelona winger from lifting a finish over him!

Going back to Pedri, it has even been suggested that Messi could be persuaded to stay at the Camp Nou beyond the end of the season to act as a mentor to him, such is the strength of their understanding.

Ruibal comes off and is replaced by Rodri for Real Betis, who need some fresh energy.

Dembele is the latest player to be shown a yellow card by the referee.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Pedri’s performances this season has been how quickly he has struck up an understanding with Messi. The two creators appear to be on the same wavelength!

That was for Alba! Messi threaded a pass in behind the Real Betis defence, but Griezmann took it away from its intended target, Alba. Oh dear. Alba would have been through!

Messi goes down! The Argentine dribbles into the opposition box and goes down under the challenge of Mandi, but there wasn't enough in that for a penalty kick to be awarded.

All of a sudden, the dynamic of the match has changed. The Catalans look much more threatening with Messi now finally on the pitch. It's now Real Betis who are hanging on!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! Real Betis 1 Barcelona 1 (60 mins - Lionel Messi). Well, that didn't take long. Messi has been on the pitch for a matter of seconds and he has equalised for Barcelona. Dembele managed to play the pass to the Argentine under pressure and he finds the bottom corner of the Real Betis net!

Here are the changes. Messi and Trincao come on for Puig and Pjanic.

Koeman needs to make more changes here. Barcelona just haven't got going. The introduction of Pedri has made a bit of a difference, but the Catalans need more.

Mandi down again! The Real Betis defender suffered a knock in the first half and he's down again after a colission with Pjanic. That might be an impact blow rather than a strain.

Ter Stegen saves Barca! Juanmi attempted to stab a finish past the Barcelona goalkeeper after receiving the pass from Fekir, but ter Stegen made the diving save! Good stop.

At what point will we see Messi come off the bench? Barcelona have started this second half better, but they are still struggling for that final ball in the final third. A bit toothless.