La Liga leaders Barcelona fell to a first home defeat in any competition for more than two years when they were beaten 4-3 by Real Betis at the Nou Camp on Sunday despite Lionel Messi returning from injury, while Ivan Rakitic was sent off for the Catalans.
Messi had been out with a broken arm, but despite his return it was a losing night for Barca.
Betis's livewire winger Junior gave the visitors a deserved lead in the 20th minute, finishing off a counter-attack that had started in their own penalty area, while captain Joaquin doubled their lead in the 35th after another venture down the wing from Junior.
_____________
Read more
Barcelona through to knockout stages of Uefa Champions League despite no Lionel Messi
Barcelona v Girona in Miami set to be shelved after lack of support
_____________
Messi pulled Barca back into the game by converting a penalty midway through the second half but Betis restored their two-goal cushion through Giovani Lo Celso with the help of an uncharacteristic error from Barca's goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen who fumbled the shot into the net.
Arturo Vidal quickly responded with a goal down the other end but Rakitic was then dismissed for a second booking and Sergio Canales soon made it 4-2, sliding to the floor to knock in a pass from the electric Junior.
Messi scored from close range in stoppage time but Betis hung on to clinch a first league win at the Nou Camp since 1998.
The defeat leaves Barca on 24 points after 12 games, one ahead of nearest challengers Atletico Madrid in second - who are also their next opponents - and Alaves in third.
It was the Catalans' first defeat at home since they were beaten 2-1 by Alaves in September 2016 and the first time they have conceded four goals in a league game since they were beaten 4-2 by Deportivo La Coruna in April 2003.
