Raphinha was the difference-maker at Camp Nou on Sunday, scoring twice in a 3-1 win over Real Betis that kept Barcelona’s La Liga momentum intact heading into the final round. The Brazilian winger opened the scoring in the 28th minute and doubled the lead after the break, only for Isco to pull one back from the spot before Joao Cancelo put the result beyond doubt with a 74th-minute strike. Hansi Flick’s side controlled possession at 63% and registered 15 shots to Betis’s seven, a comfortable margin that the scoreline ultimately reflected.
Key Moments
- 28′, Raphinha opens the scoring with a normal goal to give Barcelona the lead at Camp Nou.
- 38′, Jules Kounde is booked for a foul, picking up Barcelona’s only yellow card of the afternoon.
- 62′, Raphinha doubles the lead, finishing again to make it 2-0 and put Barcelona firmly in control.
- 67′, VAR confirms a penalty for Real Betis, setting up a lifeline for the visitors.
- 69′, Isco converts from the spot to make it 2-1 and inject brief uncertainty into the game.
- 74′, Joao Cancelo restores the two-goal cushion with a normal goal, effectively ending the contest.
Tactical Breakdown
Barcelona were in control from the opening whistle, finishing with 63% possession, 705 passes at a 91% accuracy rate, and nine shots on goal compared to just two for Betis. Flick’s 4-3-3 created consistent pressure through the inside channels, with 12 of their 15 attempts coming from inside the box. The xG figures told an interesting story though: Barcelona’s 1.12 xG was lower than expected for three goals, suggesting they were clinical rather than dominant in terms of clear-cut chances.
The key shift came at halftime when Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini sent on Lo Celso and Fidalgo simultaneously, a double substitution aimed at injecting more creativity in midfield. It briefly paid off after Cancelo’s foul in the area led to the VAR-confirmed penalty that Isco converted in the 69th minute. Betis had a moment, but Cancelo answered five minutes later at the other end, turning from culprit to scorer in the space of seven minutes and ending any realistic prospect of a comeback.
Real Betis struggled to build from their 4-1-4-1 base. Amrabat was isolated as the single pivot, and with just 37% possession and only three shots from inside the box all game, the visitors rarely threatened in open play. Their goalkeeper Adrian Valles made six saves, which kept the scoreline respectable and reflected just how one-sided proceedings were outside of the penalty incident.
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Verdict
The win consolidates Barcelona’s position as La Liga’s dominant force heading into matchday 38, with Flick’s team demonstrating the kind of depth and composure that title-winning sides need late in a season. For Real Betis, the defeat leaves them with little to play for in the final round beyond individual pride, as their campaign winds down without the European finish their early-season form had briefly suggested was possible.