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Hansi Flick's side could have moved six points clear at the top, but despite going ahead in the seventh minute, the Blaugrana were unable to breach the Betis defence for a second time, despite enjoying 75 per cent of the possession and firing off 13 shots to their opponents' six.

It was a bright start for both sides, but it was Gavi that put the hosts ahead, firing across Adrian to nestle the ball in the far corner after a superb one-touch assist from Ferran Torres had sent him clear inside the box.

But just 10 minutes later, Betis was level from a corner, Natan rising highest to fire a bullet header past the desparing dive of Wojciech Szczesny in the Barca goal.

Torres had a wonderful chance to put Barcelona back in front on the half hour but fired wide, and there were further chances for the hosts before the break, but they could not capitalise.

The best chance of the second half fell to Jules Kounde for Barcelona, who after selling a dummy fired a crisp shot on target from just outside the six-yard box, but somehow Adrian was able first to keep it out with a stunning save and then smother the rebound.

Barcelona kept pushing right up to the final whistle, the last kick of the match a ball across the face of the Betis goal that nobody could connect with, leaving the home side frustrated but likely happy it didn't drop all three points, moving four clear at the top with 67.

Gavi said after the match: "We are bitter about the result because we couldn't take advantage of the chances we had throughout the match, but we have to accept it and move on."

The result represented the end of long winning streaks for boths sides - nine for Barcelona and six for Betis.

Betis has moved into fifth spot with 48 points, although Villarreal is only one point behind in sixth place and has two games in hand.