by 
Barcelona secured their place in next season’s Champions League thanks to Jordi Alba’s impressive goal in stoppage time against Real Betis.
Xavi’s team took the lead when Ansu Fati, who came off the bench, kicked in the lower corner of the edge of the area – his first La Liga goal since 6 November following injury problems.
Former Barça defender Marc Bartra headed in for Betis moments later.
But, four minutes into stoppage time, Alba shot through Dani Alves’ cross.
The Barcelona players gave their Real Betis counterparts a guard of honor before kick-off following the hosts’ recent Copa del Rey victory over Valencia.
It was a fun game with Ronald Araujo’s header on the post by Betis goalkeeper Rui Silva and Betis’ Guido Rodriguez hitting the post.
Barça, in second place, are now 11 points clear of Betis, who are in fifth with three games to go. They were ninth when Xavi replaced Ronald Koeman in November.
alignments
Real Betis
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 25angryReplaced forDantas da Silvaat the 17′minutes
- 23Sabaly
- 16pezzella
- 5bartraBooked in 72 minutes
- 15Moreno Lopera
- 21Rodrigues
- 18savedReplaced forSánchezat the 77′minutes
- 10channels
- 8Fekir
- 7JuanmiReplaced forWilliam Carvalhoat the 77′minutes
- 9churches
alternates
- 3González
- 4Akouokou
- 6Ruiz
- 11tello
- 12da Silva
- 13Dantas da Silva
- 14William Carvalho
- 17Sánchez Rodriguez
- 20Lainez
- 24Rhuibal
- 28Sánchez
- 33Miranda
barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Murara Neto
- 8Alves da SilvaBooked in 78 minutes
- 4Araújo
- 24Garcia
- 18alba
- 21de Jong
- 5busquetsBooked in 64 minutes
- 30paezReplaced forPuig Martíat the 79′minutes
- 7DembeleReplaced fortraoréat the 74′minutes
- 19towersReplaced forFati Scallopat the 75′minutes
- 9PayReplaced foraubameyangat the 66′minutes
alternates
- 6Puig Martí
- 10Fati Scallop
- 11traoré
- 12Braithwaite
- 15Lenglet
- 17de Jong
- 22thinness
- 23Umtiti
- 25aubameyang
- 36Tenas
- Judge:
- Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
- Attendance:
- 46,132
live text
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Game over, Real Betis 1, Barcelona 2.
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Second Half ends, Real Betis 1, Barcelona 2.
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Goal! Real Betis 1, Barcelona 2. Jordi Alba (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Daniel Alves.
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Riqui Puig (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by William Carvalho (Real Betis).
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Foul by Eric Garcia (Barcelona).
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Borja Iglesias (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by William Carvalho (Real Betis).
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Foul by Ansu Fati (Barcelona).
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Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the opposing half.
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Foul by William Carvalho (Real Betis).
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Corner, Barcelona. Provided by Alex Moreno.
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Offside, Barcelona. Sergio Busquets tries a deep pass, but Jordi Alba is caught in an offside position.
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Lost attempt. William Carvalho (Real Betis) right footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Nabil Fekir.
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Attempt blocked. Attempt blocked. Álex Moreno (Real Betis) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Guido Rodriguez.
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Lost attempt. Germán Pezzella (Real Betis) header from the center of the box goes over but misses to the left. Assisted by Nabil Fekir with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Real Betis. Provided by Ronald Araújo.
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Attempt blocked. Borja Iglesias (Real Betis) right footed shot from a difficult angle and wide range on the left side. Assisted by Sérgio Canales.
