Barcelona 3 Real Betis 4: La Liga leader stunned by Setien's side

Barcelona failed to extend its lead at the La Liga summit as it fell to an error-strewn home defeat to Real Betis.

Published : Nov 11, 2018 23:27 IST

Real Betis' Joaquin celebrates his goal against Barcelona during their La Liga clash on Sunday.
Real Betis' Joaquin celebrates his goal against Barcelona during their La Liga clash on Sunday.
lightbox-info

Real Betis' Joaquin celebrates his goal against Barcelona during their La Liga clash on Sunday.

The returning Lionel Messi scored twice but was unable to prevent La Liga leader Barcelona from slipping to a chaotic 4-3 defeat to Real Betis at Camp Nou.

Messi – making his first appearance since fracturing his arm against Sevilla on October 20 – could only watch on as Barca's defence was ripped apart by Betis, which ended a run of eight straight defeats away to the Catalan side.

Ernesto Valverde's men started sluggishly and were punished after 20 minutes when Junior scored his second league goal of the season before veteran winger Joaquin doubled the away side's advantage 11 minutes before the interval.

MATCH CENTRE: BAR vs BET

Messi pulled one back from the penalty spot after 68 minutes before Marc-Andre ter Stegen spilled Giovani Lo Celso's shot into his own net three minutes later.

Arturo Vidal gave Barca hope of a grandstand finish 11 minutes from time but Sergio Canales slid home a Betis fourth with seven minutes remaining and not even a second from Messi in stoppage time could save the host. 

Betis started with a swagger – Joaquin blazing over after six minutes – and was rewarded in the 20th minute when Junior collected William Carvalho's pass on the left, cut inside Sergi Roberto and fired a crisp drive inside Ter Stegen's right-hand post.

Pau Lopez superbly tipped over Clement Lenglet's stretching volley five minutes later before an incisive counter attack doubled Betis' advantage in the 34th minute.

Junior's low cross was met at the back post by Cristian Tello, who picked out Joaquin to slide past Ter Stegen from 10 yards for his second league goal of the campaign.

Moments after firing agonisingly wide of Ter Stegen's post, Tello pulled Jordi Alba's shirt in the area and Messi slammed home the resulting spot-kick.

Ter Stegen then allowed Lo Celso's drive to slip through his grasp after 71 minutes for Betis' third before substitute Vidal finished from close range after being teed up by Munir El Haddadi.

Canales appeared to put the result beyond doubt, sliding home Junior's cross seven minutes from time, but Messi ensured there was late drama, tucking home Vidal's pass deep into stoppage time. The goal was eventually given after a VAR review for offside, but it was too little, too late for Valverde's shell-shocked side.

What does it mean? Betis takes advantage of Barca generosity

Few could have anticipated such a slapstick performance at the back from Barca, which conceded four goals at Camp Nou for the first time since April 2003. Victory for Espanyol against Sevilla later on Sunday could see it pull level with its city neighbour at the La Liga summit. Betis, meanwhile, can toast a momentous win that lifts it up to 12th.

Joaquin rolls back the years

One of La Liga's most popular players, 37-year-old Joaquin was instrumental in Betis' stunning first-half performance and showed superb composure to coolly slot past Ter Stegen to double his side's advantage.

Pique pulled apart

The former Spain defender was turned inside out by Betis' rampant attackers in a hapless first-half display and looked like a shadow of his former self alongside Lenglet at the heart of the Barca backline.

What's next?

Barca faces a mouth-watering visit to Atletico Madrid as it looks to return to winning ways after the international break, while a buoyant Betis travels to Villarreal.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment