Fortress Camp Nou, at the start of La Liga
La Liga action returns to the Camp Nou, and after starting this season against Athletic Club at San Mamés (1-0), the Blaugrana will look for their first victory against Real Betis (Sunday 9.00pm CEST).
Barça have converted their stadium into a fortress for the first home games of the league season, winning all of their last eight season openers at the Camp Nou. The last time the players didn't earn three points from such a fixture was in the 2010/11 campaign, when Hércules won 0-2. Despite the slip, Barça ended up winning the league again.
Betis, an old foe at the start of a league season
It will be the third time in the last four years that Barça will host Betis in the opening league match at the Camp Nou, coming after the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons. However, this time the game is on the second match day and not the first, as on the previous two occasions. These two precedents invite optimism: a 6-2 win in 2016, with goals from Arda Turan, two from Messi and a hat-trick from Luis Suárez; and a 2-0 win in 2017 thanks to an own goal by Tosca and a strike from Sergi Roberto.
Results of the first league game at Camp Nou over the last eight years
| Season | Matches | Goal scorers |
| 2011/12 | FCB 5-0 Villarreal | Thiago, Cesc, Alexis and Messi x2 |
| 2012/13 | FCB 5-1 Real Sociedad | Puyol, Messi x2, Pedro and Villa |
| 2013/14 | FCB 7-0 Levante | Alexis, Messi x2, Alves, Pedro and Xavi |
| 2014/15 | FCB 3-0 Elche | Messi x2 and Munir |
| 2015/16 | FCB 1-0 Malaga | Vermaelen |
| 2016/17 | FCB 6-2 Betis | Arda Turan, Messi x2 and Suárez x3 |
| 2017/18 | FCB 2-0 Betis | Tosca (OG) and Sergi Roberto |
| 2018/19 | FCB 3-0 Alavés | Messi x2 and Coutinho |