BARCELONA: Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Sergio Busquets (left) vies for a header with Real Betis' Spanish forward Borja Iglesias during the Spanish League football match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis yesterday. - AFP

MADRID: Barcelona suffered their third home defeat of the season at Camp Nou yesterday with a 1-0 loss to Real Betis coming just four days before their crucial Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. The Catalans dominated the game but it was Juanmi Jimenez who scored the only goal of the game in the 79th minute as Betis moved into third place in the table.

Sevilla move second

Sevilla reduced the gap to Real Madrid to five points yesterday by beating Villarreal 1-0 in La Liga, with Lucas Ocampos scoring the winner in the first half. Victory lifts Sevilla into second place, above Atletico Madrid, who played at home to Mallorca later, before leaders Real Madrid face Real Sociedad in San Sebastian.

Villarreal have ambitions to challenge for the top four this season but they stay 12th after continuing a miserable run of form away from home. They are yet to win an away game in the league this season. Ocampos gave Sevilla the lead in the 16th minute after Juan Foyth was dispossessed down the right, allowing Marcos Acuna to swing a cross to the back post, where Ocampos' header trickled in.

Rafa Mir thought he had added a second goal but was offside and then Sevilla spurned an excellent chance when they had a six against two on the counter-attack but failed to convert. Villarreal should have made them pay in the second half only for Moreno to miss a sitter. Dani Parejo's chipped ball was played across the box by Pervis Estupinan to the back post where Moreno, three yards out with the net gaping, somehow wafted wide. - AFP