Barça have their home debut in LaLiga for the last eight seasons but the visit of Real Betis to the Camp Nou feels like it carries a lot more pressure than any of those previous occasions. After losing to Athletic Club last weekend you must add the fact Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele are all out injured. Real Betis lost their first match of the season as well but were the only side to beat Barça at the Camp Nou last season.
But either way this is a must-win game for Ernesto Valverde's men. Barça always demand to win every match but following the opening round defeat, coupled with Real Madrid dropping points against Valladolid, this could be the ideal time to turn the situation around.
DE JONG AND BUSQUETS TOGETHER
There isn't likely to be any changes in defence. Ter Stegen will be in goal, Pique and Lenglet in the middle with Semedo and Jordi Alba either side. However slightly further forward, in midfield, it won't be the same. Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic started on the bench against Athletic and both are expected to come into the XI, with Frenkie de Jong the only one to keep his place.
It's upfront where Valverde has a lot of big decisions to make. Abel Ruiz didn't match the squad list which suggests Griezmann will play as the false nine. Without Suarez and Dembele, the most logical option would be to go with Rafinha and Carles Perez either side of the French forward. Ansu Fati, the Juvenil A star, is on the bench whilst Aleña was surprisingly left out all together.
BETIS ARE WITHOUT 'PANDA' BUT FEKIR IS A DANGER MAN
The task of grabbing a victory at the Camp Nou for Real Betis is made even harder due to the fact their new star striker, Borja Iglesias, hasn't recovered in time. This means Nabil Fekir could be used as the main forward as Betis look to frustrate the home side and maybe grab something on the counterattack.
Source: Sport