After their 11-game La Liga winning run was snapped by Deportivo Alavés, Barcelona are aiming to complete a perfect season on home soil when Real Betis come to town on Sunday evening.
Title Celebrations
Hansi Flick's side were confirmed as back-to-back Spanish champions against Clásico rivals Real Madrid last weekend, as stunning goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres inspired a comfortable 2–0 win.
However, their dreams of claiming a 100-point haul were dashed midweek in Alavés, with Flick rotating heavily in the aftermath of Sunday's title celebrations.
Betis' European Dream
Their upcoming opponents, who were beaten 5–3 in a thriller back in December, enter the contest in a similarly jubilant mood, having secured their spot in next season's Champions League.
Led by Premier League-winning manager Manuel Pellegrini, Betis have continued on their upward trajectory after reaching last season's Conference League final.
Sunday's visitors confirmed their spot in Europe's premier club competition for the first time since 2005–06 by beating Elche 2–1 midweek.
Barcelona's Home Record
The mood's bound to be pretty jubilant at Camp Nou this weekend, but Flick won't allow his team's standards to slip in the wake of their celebration, especially after they were beaten midweek.
Barcelona have the chance to become the first La Liga team since the competition was expanded to 20 teams to win every single one of their home games. Real Madrid were the last to do it in 1985–86.
Barça's imperious home record: Barcelona have won all 17 of their La Liga home games this season and are thus chasing history this weekend. It's a feat they haven't achieved since Helenio Herrera was at the helm 66 years ago.
Betis' Camp Nou Record
The visitors have claimed a pair of relatively recent wins at Barça's majestic home, but their victories in 2018 and 2021 are the club's only La Liga triumphs on this ground in the 21st century.
The Ferran Factor
Not only did Ferran Torres score a hat-trick in the reverse fixture, but he also enters this game in excellent form. The Spaniard has scored five times in his previous six appearances.
Injury News
Barcelona's injury list has been trimmed down the stretch, but they're still without superstar winger Lamine Yamal due to a hamstring problem. Yamal won't play again this season, but hope remains that he'll be fit for the start of the World Cup.
Flick shuffled his pack plenty for their midweek defeat at Alavés, and there was a La Liga debut for 21-year-old Álvaro Cortés, who partnered another La Masia graduate, Pau Cubarsí, at center back.
While Cortés impressed on his first senior outing, we're likely to see Gerard Martín return to Barça's defense this weekend.
The only other injury concern is Frenkie de Jong, who picked up a knock in El Clásico and subsequently missed the trip to Alavés. Raphinha will come back in after serving a one-game suspension.
Predicted Lineups
Barcelona (4-2-3-1): J. García; García, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Gavi, Pedri; Rashford, Olmo, López; Torres.
João Cancelo, Ferran Torres, Pedri, Gavi and João García are also poised for recalls.
Real Betis: Yellow card accumulation means former Leeds United and Roma defender Diego Llorente and midweek goalscorer Cucho Hernández are suspended.
Prediction
Barcelona 2–1 Real Betis
Barcelona have won every single La Liga match at Camp Nou this season.