Camp Nou will host Real Betis on a late Sunday evening kick-off as Barcelona prepare to get going on the points table. Barcelona started their La Liga title defence in the worst possible manner and have ground to make up on Matchday 2 itself. The Catalan giants lost 1-0 to Athletic Bilbao away at the San Mames stadium on the opening game of the season.
Ernesto Valverde has been put under intense media scrutiny following Barcelona’s disastrous end to the 2018-19 season. Barca blew away a three-goal advantage in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League against Liverpool. They also lost the Copa del Rey final against Valencia and ended their season with just the La Liga title. The defeat on Matchday 1 has only made things from bad to worse for Valverde & Co.
However, there is a ray of hope for the Camp Nou faithful with Lionel Messi set to return from his calf injury. The Argentine is in contention to play the game on Sunday and will undoubtedly make a significant impact on proceedings. Ousmane Dembele and Luis Suarez would not be available for selection due to injury.
The away side also lost their Matchday 1 fixture against Real Valladolid and will try to seek at least a point from their trip to the North of Spain. Betis would be without goalie Robles who picked up a red card eight minutes into La Liga Santander 2019-20.
Defence
Ter Stegen is set to start in goal and will seek to hold onto a clean sheet after letting in a late goal against Athletic Bilbao. Nelson Semedo would occupy the right-back slot after putting in an impressive performance on Matchday 1.
Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti would start in the centre of Barcelona’s defence. Clement Lenglet could also be given the nod ahead of the Frenchman Umtiti. Jordi Alba would start in the left-back position.
Midfield
The ever-reliant duo of Ivan Rakitic and Sergio Busquets would start in midfield along with summer recruit, de Jong. Busquets was certainly missed in Barcelona’s defeat to Bilbao and will be crucial in the fixture against Real Betis.
Attack
Messi is most likely to make his return to the side following injury and will have Griezmann and Rafinha to his either side. Lionel Messi will be vital for Barcelona and will dictate play from his style of the game. Luis Suarez is out injured and will not even make the bench for this fixture.
Predicted Line-Up
Ter Stegen
Semedo – Pique – Umtiti – Alba
Rakitic – De Jong – Busquets
Rafinha – Messi – Griezmann
