Barcelona misplaced its first match beneath Xavi Hernández on Saturday when it fell to Real Betis 1-0 at dwelling simply earlier than its essential journey to Bayern Munich.
Striker Juanmi Jiménez completed off a well-orchestrated counterattack to take Betis’ winner within the 79th minute at Camp Nou.
Barcelona had received twice and drawn as soon as since Xavi took over as coach from Ronald Koeman. The defeat left the group in seventh place and in peril of falling even additional behind chief Real Madrid, which performed at Real Sociedad later.
🎩✨😍
Te quiero, @SergioCanales.#DíaDeBetis #BarçaRealBetis pic.twitter.com/ktcUExxzUM
— Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) December 4, 2021
Barcelona visits Bayern on Wednesday needing a win to make sure its place within the Champions League spherical of 16. Bayern, which is already certified because the group winner, beat Barcelona 3-0 of their first assembly this season.
If it loses, Barcelona would want Benfica to not beat Dynamo Kyiv to keep away from elimination.
The excessive level of the day for Barcelona’s followers got here earlier than kickoff, when Barcelona participant Alexia Putellas offered to the 65,000-plus followers her Ballón d’Or for the world’s finest ladies’s participant.
💚🍍💚
Puede que tengáis problemas para descargaros la imagen por las toneladas de calidad que tienen todos los que aparecen en ella. 𝐌𝐈 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐏𝐎.#DíaDeBetis #BarçaRealBetis pic.twitter.com/zkhV4D1GzW
— Real Betis Balompié 🌴💚 (@RealBetis) December 4, 2021
Otherwise, it was extra frustration.
“It hurts because we should have at least taken a point today,” Xavi mentioned. “Of course I am worried, I don’t like losing. But I don’t think we deserved to lose.”
Betis’ purpose got here simply when Barcelona was enjoying at its finest after Ousmane Dembelé went on as an alternative choice to the ultimate half hour.
The winger, which the membership needs to signal a brand new contract earlier than his present one expires on the finish of the season, ignited Barcelona’s assault. Three occasions he shot simply by the put up earlier than Betis caught Barcelona on a three-versus-two breakaway.
Sergio Canales coolly drew in Barcelona’s final two defenders and handed for Cristian Tello, who fed the now unmarked Juanmi to fit the ball previous Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
“Canales had the patience to create those spaces,” mentioned Juanmi, whose 9 objectives are second within the league solely to Karim Benzema’s 12 with Madrid.
“We have to stop those counterattacks,” Xavi mentioned. “We had practiced just that, about when you have to make a tactical foul.”
❝We do not should lose immediately, however that is soccer.❞
— Xavi reacts to #BarçaBetis pic.twitter.com/9gKE6hfou5
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) December 4, 2021
Barcelona misplaced teen expertise Gavi Páez within the thirty fourth when he wanted to be carted off after apparently feeling dizzy following the highly effective impression of a ball to his head.
Manuel Pellegrini’s Betis rose into third place, proper behind crosstown rival Sevilla, which beat Villarreal 1-0 because of a purpose from Lucas Ocampos.
Sevilla and Villareal even have key Champions League matches this week. Sevilla should win at Salzburg to maneuver on, whereas Villarreal performs Atalanta needing a draw to advance.
