FC Barcelona captain Lionel Messi ended up on the wrong end of the results on Sunday at the Camp Nou as his brace could not help his side avoid a 4-3 shock defeat at home against Real Betis.
Sunday’s clash against Betis was Messi‘s first appearance in three weeks after suffering from a horrific broken arm. Betis struck twice in the first half to stun a shaky Barcelona defence with goals from Junior Firpo and Joaquin. Lionel Messi pulled one back at 68 minutes in half-time to make it 2-1, before Betis doubled the lead again via Giovani lo Celso at minute 71.
New signing Arturo Vidal made it 2-3 as back and forth action continued, but Sergio Canales struck Betis’ fourth and final nail in Barcelona’s coffin at their own home.
Barca coach Ernesto Valverde blamed the team’s poor start to the match for the defeat. “We didn’t play well in the first half. And we just couldn’t work our way back into the game. We’d been on a good run. But we didn’t start this game well at all.”
The defeat is Valverde’s first ever home defeat as Barcelona manager on his 50th La Liga match in charge of the club, while it is Barcelona’s first defeat at home in 43 games.
