Barcelona 2 - 0 Real Betis: LaLiga match report, goals, how it happened
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We brought you live coverage of Barcelona vs Real Betis on matchday one of the 2017/18 LaLiga Santander season. Here's how it all went down at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona vs Betis: how it happened
Barcelona vs Real Betis: LaLiga match preview
It is sure to be an emotional night at the Camp Nou on Sunday night as Barcelona play Real Betis to open their 2017/18 LaLiga campaign just days after a horrific attack on the beautiful city.
The Barcelona team will wear the name of the city on their shirts to pay respect to the victims of the attack and the minute's silence at every ground in Spain this weekend will hold particular sognificance at the iconic Camp Nou.
There will be nerves too after what was a disappointing defeat and display against Real Madrid in the two-legged Super Cup that ended 5-1 on aggregate that hit the side hard, admitted Piqué.
Barcelona
Ernesto Valverde will start life in LaLiga without Andres Iniesta, new signing Paulinho or Luis Suarez and with Neymar having departed for France, will only be able to call on M from the band formerly known as MSN.
Paulinho's registration papers have not arrived on time and Andres Iniesta is still trying to shake off an injury suffered in the first leg of the Super Cup. Luis Suarez is nursing a knee injury that will keep him out for a month but in the good news column for Valverde, which is getting increasingly smaller, Gerard Pique makes the squad despite going off in the second half of the Super Cup finale with an injury.
Paco Alcacer and Gerard Deulofeu are expected to replace the absent Neymar and Suarez and Andre Gomes could play in place of Andres Iniesta.
As Barcelona are working on new signings with their negotiations for Phillipe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele currently at standstills along with reported movement for Jean Michel Seri, Ernesto Valverde will be expected to find answers with the players he currently has after a limp display against their eternal rivals last week.
Betis
One of the busiest teams over the summer. Quique Setien is tasked with pushing Real Betis much higher up the table than Gus Poyet and Victor Sanchez del Amo could manage last season.
They lost Dani Ceballos, their crown jewel, along with Cristiano Piccini and German Pezzella but signed Victor Camarasa, Cristiano Tello, Sergio Leon and recently Javi Garcia along with Ryad Boudebouz despite the last name on the list not being able to play due to injury.
Quique Setien is known for his attacking and open style of play which might suit Barcelona or could cause them problems depending on which version of the blaugranas show up. They will have hopes of a top half finish and getting off to a positive start, even if that just means a good display, will be paramount the new manager implementing his style on the team and impressing the fans.
Barcelona vs Real Betis live stream online: potential line-ups
Barcelona XI: Ter Stegen, Semedo, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba, S. Roberto, Busquets, Rakitic, Messi, Alcácer, Deulofeu
Head coach: Ernesto Valverde
Real Betis XI: Adán, Barragán, Mandi, Feddal, Fabián, J. García, Camarasa, Joaquín, S. León, Nahuel
Head coach: Quique Setién
Barcelona vs Real Betis live stream online: LaLiga betting
Barcelona are overwhelmingly backed by the bookies to take the three points, with a win for the hosts valued at €1.16 for every euro placed. Betis, meanwhile, are priced back at €15.00 for every euro bet on Los Verdiblancos to start the season with a victory.
Place your bet on Barcelona vs Real Betis here
