Barcelona went a point clear at the top at the halfway stage of the Primera Liga season after drawing 1-1 with Real Betis on Wednesday.

It was a far from convincing performance by the leaders, who have won only one of their last five league games and had to come from a goal down against struggling Betis.

Brazilian striker Robert put the hosts ahead from a corner late in the first half before Mexican defender Rafael Marquez nodded the equaliser after 61 minutes.

Barca have 39 points from 19 games, one ahead of Sevilla and Real Madrid, and three clear of fourth-placed Valencia.

Betis remain 18th, five points in front of Real Sociedad and one adrift of Levante and Athletic Bilbao.

"It wasn't the result we were looking for," Barca coach Frank Rijkaard told reporters. "It is a difficult ground to play at and Betis are tough opponents."

Barca again looked a shadow of the side that strolled to the title in 2005 and 2006.

Betis played the brighter football in the first half with midfielder Marcos Assuncao and striker Rafael Sobis trying their luck from distance.

Barca looked short of ideas in attack and shaky at the back.

It came as little surprise when the home side took the lead eight minutes before the break, the unmarked Robert heading in after Nano nodded an Assuncao corner across goal.

There was more urgency about Barca in the second period but Betis had little problem keeping them at bay until the visitors won a corner on the hour, and centre back Marquez glanced his header between keeper Toni Doblas and a defender at the near post.

Betis came closest to winning the match, Assuncao shaving the post with a free kick and defender Nano going close with a header in added time.

(China Daily via Reuters January 25, 2007)