News Focus
- Barcelona create La Liga history by winning all 19 home fixtures in a single season
- Robert Lewandowski receives emotional send-off during his final appearance at Spotify Camp Nou
- Raphinha scores twice to inspire 3-1 victory over Real Betis
- Joao Cancelo seals historic win with stunning long-range strike
- Hansi Flick rotates squad following midweek defeat to Alaves
Barcelona have achieved an unprecedented feat in Spanish football history. The Catalan giants became the first side ever to claim maximum points from every home fixture during a La Liga campaign. This milestone arrived during a poignant evening at Spotify Camp Nou, where supporters bid farewell to star striker Robert Lewandowski.
Manager Hansi Flick made several alterations to his starting eleven after their surprise loss to Alaves earlier in the week. He recalled key figures including Pedri, Joan Garcia and Raphinha. The Brazilian winger repaid this faith with a match-winning display.
Raphinha opened the scoring shortly before half-time. He cleverly sent Real Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles the wrong way and curled his shot into the far corner. The forward doubled his tally on 62 minutes when he intercepted a misplaced pass from Hector Bellerin and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The visitors fought back immediately. Substitute Isco won a penalty after drawing a foul from Gavi inside the box. The experienced midfielder picked himself up and converted the spot-kick to make it 2-1. This set up a nervous period for the hosts.
Joao Cancelo eased these concerns in the 74th minute. The Portuguese defender unleashed a powerful drive from distance that flew past Valles, restoring Barcelona’s two-goal advantage. The home side saw out the remaining minutes to preserve their perfect record.
Whilst the historic achievement brings immense pride, the evening centred on Lewandowski. The Polish forward grew visibly emotional as the crowd serenaded him during his final bow at the iconic stadium.