"Barcelona return to Camp Nou on Sunday night aiming to respond to a rare setback when they face Real Betis in the penultimate match of their La Liga campaign. The newly crowned champions suffered a surprise defeat in midweek, while their visitors arrive in strong form having already secured a place in next season's Champions League."
"Barcelona's defeat to Alavés on Wednesday came as a shock, particularly as it ended a remarkable run of 11 consecutive league victories. That sequence had already secured the La Liga title for Hansi Flick's side, thanks to a decisive 2-0 win over Real Madrid which wrapped up the championship with three games to spare. Flick opted to rotate heavily for the midweek contest, and the decision backfired as Barcelona fell to their first league defeat since February."
"Barcelona have won all 18 of their league matches at Camp Nou, scoring 54 goals and conceding just nine. That record highlights the scale of the challenge facing Betis as they attempt to break one of the division's most formidable home runs. The reverse fixture earlier this season produced an entertaining 5-3 win for Barcelona, while the previous meeting at Camp Nou in the 2024-25 campaign ended in a 1-1 draw, suggesting Betis are capable of competing even on difficult terrain."
"Barcelona will once again be without Lamine Yamal, who is sidelined for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury, though he is expected to be fit for the 2026 World Cup. Otherwise, the squad is in excellent condition, with Andreas Christensen returning after a long absence. Flick is expected to rotate his side once more, with Joan García, Eric García, Ronald Ara&uacu"
Barcelona host Real Betis on Sunday night in the penultimate La Liga match, seeking to respond to a surprise midweek defeat. The loss to Alavés ended an 11-match league winning run and was Barcelona’s first league defeat since February, though the title was already secured earlier. Barcelona will finish the campaign strongly with wins over Betis and Valencia. Their home record is exceptional, with 18 league wins at Camp Nou, 54 goals scored, and nine conceded. Betis arrive in strong form and have already secured a Champions League place. Barcelona previously beat Betis 5-3 earlier in the season, and a prior Camp Nou meeting ended 1-1, indicating Betis can compete away.
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