Barcelona will probably have to beat Bayern Munich in Germany on Wednesday to progress in the Champions League, the club’ supporters will hope this was them keeping their powder dry for the do or die game in midweek.

They were beaten 1-0 by Betis at the Camp Nou letting three more points slip away. This season has been turned into a battle to get into the top four and they are now seven points behind Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

They also lost teenage midfielder Gavi in the first half after he was hit in the head by the ball from close range. He looked dazed immediately after the incident and will need a scan and 24 hours of surveillance before he joins the team on their trip to Germany on Tuesday.

Juanmi (left) scored his ninth goal of the season as Real Betis won 1-0 away at Barcelona on Saturday

Betis’s goal came 11 minutes from time and it was Juanmi’s ninth goal in his last 11 games. Sergio Canales broke down the right and pulled the ball back to Guido Rodriguez who slipped it to Juanmi who shot past Marc Andre ter Stegen.

Barcelona had started brightly. Coutinho started well with a nutmeg on Victor Ruiz to get to the byline and, later, a shot that went wide. Betis struggled to keep pace with Barcelona and Canales was booked for stepping on Sergio Busquets.

But Barcelona slowed and Betis began to threaten. The home side were also hampered by a blow from the ball to the head for 17-year-old midfielder Gavi. The Spain international was groggy in the aftermath and after going down again he needed lengthy attention and was taken off on 34 minutes to be replaced by Riqui Puig. 

There was a big ovation for Gavi as he was carted off the pitch. Betis almost scored immediately but Aitor Ruibales couldn’t really test Ter Stegen.

The second half ended at a pedestrian pace and there was no quickening at the restart. Barça’s lack of zip has been contagious at times this season frequently infecting the previously reliable Ter Stegen. 

He came out of his goal with little or no chance of getting to Ruibal’s cross. Juanmi turned the ball past him but was just offside and the goal was ruled out.

It was the cue for Xavi to make changes. Coutinho’s early fizz had long since fizzled out and he was replaced by Ousmane Dembele. Frenkie de Jong also came on for Nico. Coutinho continues to give almost no return on his club-record breaking fee from Liverpool.

Dembele had two shots in barely his first two minutes, generating more danger than Barcelona had mustered in the hour or so before his arrival. The home side were now slightly more inspired and Marc Bartra had to block brilliantly against his former team to stop Jordi Alba’s shot breaking the deadlock.

But Juanmi beat Ter Stegen and Barcelona had no response. Xavi turned to the big man on the bench. Luuk de Jong, previously not even told to warm-up by the new Barcelona coach, was the last card played but there was no way back into the game for the home.

They will need so much more in three days if they are to take something from Munich and stay in the Champions League.