Barcelona 3 Real Betis 4: Lionel Messi return not enough as Barca are stunned at Camp Nou

Stunned | Barca concede four goals at home for the first time in 15 years
AFP/Getty Images/Josep Lago
Standard Sport11 November 2018

Not even the even the presence of their returning captain, Lionel Messi, was enough for Barcelona as the league leaders were stunned by Real Betis.

Quique Setien’s side ran out deserved 4-3 winners after a scintillating performance against Ernesto Valverde’s men, having lost their last eight matches at Camp Nou.

It was the first time in 15 years that Barca had conceded four goals at home.

The home crowd was stunned after the first 45 minutes, with Betis leading 2-0 at the interval.

Goals from Junior Firpo (20 minutes) and Joaqim (34 minutes) had put Enersto Valverde’s side well and truly on the backfoot.

In Pictures | Barcelona vs Real Betis | 11/11/18

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When Messi – making his first appearance since recovering from a fractured arm – halved the deficit from the penalty spot, the comeback looked on.

But that air of newfound excitement soon dissipated from Camp Nou.

Betis restored their two-goal advantage just three minutes through Giovani Lo Celso to stun Barca once again.

Arturo Vidal – on at half time – pulled another back for Barca in what became a frantic finish to the game, which saw Ivan Rakitic dismissed in the dying moments of the match for a second booking of the game.

Chasing the game with ten men, Barca left themselves open and former Real Madrid man Sergio Canales added a fourth for Betis.

Barca struck again at the death with Messi scoring his second of the match, but that would be merely a consolation as Valverde’s side succumbed to only their second La Liga defeat of the season.

Next up for Barcelona is a trip to Atletico Madrid, and Sunday’s slip-up leaves Diego Simeone’s side just a point behind them in second place.

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