Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Betis | La Liga MD 37 | OneFootball

FC Barcelona fell to a defeat when they faced off against Deportivo Alaves earlier this week, and their performance was one of the worst they have delivered all season.

As the newly-crowned champions, however, the game was passed off as a one-off and was attributed to the celebratory mood in the dressing room.

Tomorrow, they take to the field for their penultimate game of the season and their final one at the Spotify Camp Nou, and the opposition will be a formidable one in Real Betis.

Los Verdiblancos are currently fifth in the league standings and have secured Champions League football for next season. And the clash against the Blaugrana tomorrow will be a spectacle to watch.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Real Betis.

Time to return to business

Barcelona’s game against Alaves midweek was anything but inspiring, and the defeat ended all hopes of a 100-point season. Yet, the performance was completely understandable given the team’s situation.

Having clinched La Liga just days ago in an emphatic El Clasico win, Barça players were in ecstasy and clearly not geared up to play on such short notice again.

The defeat will not hurt, given the circumstances it came under, but Hansi Flick will look to ensure that his side are up for the challenge tomorrow with the same hunger as they had before they were crowned champions.

Raphinha’s return to the field will be a massive positive, and it is possible that he even starts. The likes of Pedri, Gavi, Joao Cancelo, and Robert Lewandowski are also expected to start.

With all their stars back and raring to go, Barcelona will look to play like champions and show the world why they are the deserved kings of La Liga. The celebrations were fun while they lasted, but closing the season on a high note is critical.

A perfect record beckons

Chasing the perfect home record in La Liga. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

It has been a special season for Barcelona so far for a plethora of reasons, one of which has been their sensational form at home.

For starters, Barcelona returned to the Spotify Camp Nou this season and marked the beginning of a new chapter in the club’s history. Ever since returning to the Camp Nou, they have enjoyed an almost-flawless record.

The most special record, however, is in La Liga, where Barcelona have won every single game at home this season. 18 games have been played at home for the Catalans in the competitions, and they have secured all 54 points possible.

Tomorrow is the team’s final game in front of their home fans, and a win will ensure a perfect record that is almost unthinkable – to win all 19 games in La Liga played on their own backyard.

Never in the history of a 38-game La Liga tournament has a team won all 19 matches played at home, and Barcelona can make history tomorrow by becoming the first-ever side to achieve that feat.

There is, at this point, no excuse to forfeit on such a special record, especially days after they threw away their chances at 100 points.

Farewell to a legend

Earlier today, Robert Lewandowski announced his departure from Barcelona at the end of the season, putting an end to all speculation about whether or not he would renew.

His announcement has been received by the club with a lot of emotion, and fans have been taking to social media to pay tribute to the man who came to Barcelona at the club’s lowest, and helped resurrect a broken project.

Lewandowski arrived as one of the best players in the world, but leaves as a club legend, and one can never forget the impact he has had in lifting the club up from one of its lowest points in history.

Tomorrow’s game will be Lewandowski’s final one at the Spotify Camp Nou as a Barcelona player, and it is clear that he deserves a fitting farewell. Four years of passion, dedication, and goals later, the stadium will bid adieu to the legend.

Lewandowski stated in his farewell message that Barcelona are back to where it belongs, and that Catalonia will always remain his place on earth. 

The love he has received over the years has been tremendous, but tomorrow will be the time to show the player what he means to the institution. 

Hansi Flick confirmed that Lewandowski will start, and it will be overwhelming to watch him leave the field to a deservingly rousing ovation one last time at the Spotify Camp Nou.