A goal from Juanmi in the 79th minute ended a streak of two consecutive wins for Barça in LaLiga, which was thirteen points behind the leaders, Real Madrid.
FC Barcelona fell 1-0 at home against Betis this Saturday, in LaLiga matchday 16, which meant Xavi Hernández’s first defeat since he sat on the Barça bench and a few days before the decisive duel against Bayern Munich in Champions.
A goal from Juanmi (79 ′) ended a streak of two consecutive Barça victories in LaLiga (coinciding with the appointment of Xavi as coach), provisionally putting the Andalusian team in third position in the championship.
The defeat is a blow for the Catalans, who see how the leading teams move away more and more, standing 13 points behind the leader, Real Madrid, who will play this Saturday at the Real Sociedad field.
An FC Barcelona full of rotations, thinking about the Munich game, where he will have to win if he wants to continue in the continental tournament, He again accused his lack of punch, despite reaching the opposite area with more danger.
Betis, who are temporarily on the league podium, began by pressing very high the departure of FC Barcelona, who soon overcame that pressure and controlled the game.
Owners of the ball, the Catalans had the first time in a shot at the first touch by Philippe Coutinho, one of the novelties of the Barça starting eleven, which was stopped by goalkeeper Rui Silva (11 ‘).
It was practically the only occasion of a first half, in which it was difficult for both teams to generate danger and in which the worst news for Barça was the departure on a stretcher of Pablo Martín Páez Gavi.
The young FC Barcelona international received a ball to the head, after which he tried to continue playing, but after a few minutes he had to retire on a stretcher with signs of daze, being replaced by Riqui Puig (35).
Dembélé revolutionized the game
Betis, which after its first few minutes of pressure, was later dominated by Barça, grew again little by little as the minutes passed, contesting the ball with the Barça players.
The Andalusian team was even able to take the lead earlier in a goal by Juanmi, annulled by a tight offside (53).
The Betis tried to take advantage of the mistakes of Barça, to which Xavi Hernández tried to give one more march with the entry of Ousmane Dembélé and Frenkie de Jong by Coutinho and Nico (58 ′).
The entry of the French winger revolutionized the game of Barça, which began to arrive more on the side of Dembélé who released two crossed shots that were just missed.
But when Barça was better, a quick against Betis arrived, which culminated with a shot from Juanmi to make it 1-0 (79 ′).
Both fell like a jug of cold water on Barça, which continued to seek to balance the game, but the goal would not come.
With this result, Barça remains in seventh position with 23 points and Betis rises to third place, with 30 points. (D)
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