The final home game of the season, and Barcelona were looking to do something that they hadn’t managed since the 1959/60 campaign, which was to win every home game in a single season.
It’s a feat that has never been completed by any Spanish club in a 20-team top-flight, and with Robert Lewandowski signing off at Camp Nou after the match, there was every reason to believe that the Poland international would want to go out with a bang.
Betis had only won one of their last six competitive matches, but
had qualified for the Champions League in midweek, and would be looking to continue riding the crest of that particular wave.
Manuel Pellegrini had something of a score to settle with the team against whom he’d lost the most games in his career (28), too.
Let’s take a look at three talking points from the match…
Barca’s brilliant attitude
The result of this match arguably meant more to Betis than it did to Barca, but that didn’t stop the Catalans from being right at it from the first whistle.
With the title already in the bag, the players could’ve been forgiven for taking their collective feet off the accelerator, particularly with the World Cup just around the corner.
To their absolute credit, however, they took the game to the Verdiblancos and didn’t allow them to settle for a moment in the first half.
Great to see, and a nod to the professionalism of this group of players and the management team.
Lewandowski shows why it’s the right time to leave
Let’s get one thing clear… Robert Lewandowski has been brilliant for the Blaugranes in the four years he’s been at the club.
Leadership, experience, goals – the Poland international had it all in spades. However, time waits for no man, and age has, unfortunately, caught up with him.
Sportsmen in general can sometimes outstay their welcome rather than move on or retire with their legend intact.
Lewandowski has taken the sensible decision to call it a day at Barca at the end of this season, and his performance against Betis only underscored that choice.
Chances were lost because he was slow off the mark, and balls that would be meat and drink for a player with a bit more speed often looked aimless and not at all purposeful.
Notwithstanding this, whoever becomes his replacement has an awful lot to live up to, because they are big boots for anyone to fill.
Cancelo’s deal has to be made permanent
Long before Joao Cancelo bent his right foot effort beyond Alvaro Valles for Barca’s third goal, the Portuguese had enjoyed a great game.
The right mix of attacking intent and defensive excellence when he’s on form, the right-back must be retained beyond this season for what he brings to the team.
Whether he should start next season as the first-choice on the right or the left is a decision for Hansi Flick, though the fact that Cancelo can play both with equal aplomb makes his permanent signing a no-brainer.
