Barcelona 2-0 Real Betis: Valverde's men off to winning start at emotional Camp Nou
Sergi Roberto and a Tosca own goal were the scorers for Barça
Messi played as a false nine and was denied three times by the post
Barcelona kicked off the new season with a 2-0 win over Real Betis, but it could and should have been much more.
Ernesto Valverde’s side dominated the match and Lionel Messi was denied by the woodwork three times. In the end, though, an own goal from Alin Tosca and a strike from Sergi Roberto proved the difference between the two sides.
Barça paid homage to the victims of the terror attacks in Catalonia this week before the game with a minute’s silence. The players also had #TotsSomBarcelona on the front of their shirts and ‘Barcelona’ on the back where the players’ surnames would usually appear.
Police chiefs were also invited to watch the game from the President’s Box in recognition of their work this week, as was the mayor of Cambrils, where this week’s second attack took place.
On the pitch, Barca eased through the gears and were two goals up before the break with Gerard Deulofeu laying on both.
Messi laid Deulofeu in for the first, with the winger’s cross turned into his own net by Tosca.
Javier Mascherano then produced a stunning challenge to stop Sergio Leon scoring and 60 second later it was two, Deulofeu winning the ball back and setting up Sergi Roberto.
Somehow, Barca didn’t score again.
And somehow, Messi didn’t score at all.
The Argentine, operating from a false nine position, hit the woodwork three teams and saw four further efforts whizz wide, with an eighth shot easily saved by Antonio Adan.
But Barca were well worth their win and will be happy to have moved on from the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid with such an accomplished performance.
