Raphinha put Barcelona in front against Real Betis with a free-kick on 28 minutes at the Spotify Camp Nou, giving Hansi Flick’s side a 1-0 lead in a match that could push them into La Liga history.
Barcelona were trying to finish with a 19/19 home record and, if they beat Betis, would become the first team in La Liga history to win every home match. Flick named a strong side for the visit, with Robert Lewandowski starting in what was his final match for the club at the Spotify Camp Nou.
The goal came at a moment when the title race already appeared to have settled, but Barcelona still had a reason to keep pressing. The side needed only one more win to complete a perfect home league campaign, a mark that underlined how dominant they had been in front of their own crowd this season.
Raphinha’s finish also mattered on a personal level. It had not been the easiest season for the Brazil forward, yet his free kick against Alvaro Valles gave Barcelona exactly the kind of early lift they wanted. One supporter captured the mood in a blunt post: “Raphinha free kick goal! He's back 💥”
Betis had little margin for error after the opener, and Barcelona’s pursuit of the 19/19 record now sat alongside the larger significance of the afternoon. If they hold on, the club will not just add another result to the table. They will close a home league run that no team in La Liga has ever completed before.
