BARCELONA missed the chance to extend their lead in the LaLiga standings after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Real Betis on Saturday, with their coach Hansi Flick saying they should move on following the disappointing result.

The draw moved Barca to 67 points, four ahead of rivals Real Madrid who slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home by Valencia earlier on Saturday, while Atletico are third on 57 points with eight games to go.

"We tried everything to win, but we couldn't do it," Flick told reporters. "We were unlucky in front of goal, but ... we played a good game.

"On days like today, when you don't manage to score, you have to accept it and see it from a positive perspective. I'm left with the fact that we tried everything and dominated the game."

Flick said that he thinks his team is looking great as they face the final stretch of a season in which they are bidding to win three titles.

As well as leading LaLiga, they are still in contention for the Copa del Rey and Champions League titles.

"We can be proud of what the players have done these last few games," Flick said.

"We are in the (Spanish Cup) final and, despite a draw, we have extended our lead on top. I'm happy, it's a fantastic situation."

The draw moves Hansi Flick's Barca on to 67 points, four ahead of rivals Real Madrid who slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home by Valencia earlier on Saturday, while Betis climbed to fifth on 48 points.

The hosts had been given further motivation by Real's shocking loss and had a great start when Gavi opened the scoring from close range, brilliantly assisted by Ferran Torres in a great team play seven minutes after kick-off.

However, Natan headed the equaliser from a corner in the 17th minute and though they dominated, Barca could not find a way past 38-year-old goalkeeper Adrian who made a string of saves later on to frustrate the hosts.

Adrian's brilliant performance started even before Barca opened the scoring, when he palmed away Pedri's strike from inside the box, but there was nothing he could do to keep Gavi from scoring moments later.

Barca kept up the pressure after taking the lead but Betis equalised from a Giovanni lo Celso corner which Natan jumped higher than defender Ronald Araujo to meet and head into the back of the net.

Adrian came to the rescue again as he made a stunning one-handed save from a Lamine Yamal curling strike from inside the box in the 38th minute.

Coach Flick subbed on Raphinha in the second half and Barca came back even stronger, dominating more than 75% of possession but wasting too many chances.

The Brazilian forward was a constant menace and missed with a curling strike from the edge of the box, with Adrian making two great efforts to deny a Jules Kounde strike in the 55th minute and a Fermin Lopez shot in the 85th.

"If we won we would be higher up the table, but in the end it's football," Gavi told Movistar Plus.

"We're 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."

Meanwhile,  Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti lamented his side's missed chances in a 2-1 home defeat by Valencia on Saturday, but urged his players to regain some focus ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash at Arsenal next week.

Valencia did leaders Barcelona a huge favour by shocking title-chasing Real in their first win away from home in LaLiga this season thanks to a brilliant performance by Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Second-placed Real have 63 points from 30 games, four behind leaders Barcelona.

Ancelotti acknowledged that winning LaLiga had become a long shot but that it should not affect their Copa del Rey and Champions League campaigns.

"We have lost the opportunity to fight for the league with more forcefulness but the (Spanish Cup final) against Barcelona and the Arsenal clash will be different," Ancelotti told a press conference on Saturday.

"(Arsenal and Barcelona) will attack more and the game script will be much different. Sure, we will have to be better at the back and be effective up front, but can't lose focus.

"It's a fact that it is not that hard for our opponents to score against us at the moment. But that is no use moaning about it.

"This is not a deserved defeat (against Valencia). Could we have done better? Sure, but it's not a lack of attitude. We deserved to win and it was because of details. We have to move on and focus on Arsenal on Tuesday."

Ancelotti was unsure who he will name in goal at Arsenal as he was forced to start 19-year-old academy goalkeeper Fran Gonzalez against Valencia with Thibaut Courtois and Ukrainian replacement Andriy Lunin sidelined with injuries.

"Courtois practiced today and he felt good about it. Because it is still unclear if he will be good to go, we decided not to risk by playing Lunin today. Both will have a few more days to recover and we will see on Tuesday which options we have," Ancelotti said