Barcelona player ratings v Real Betis: Ansu Fati 8, Jordi Alba 8, Memphis Depay 6

Catalans claim last-minute 2-1 win at Benito Villamarin to guarantee place in next season's Champions League

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  BARCELONA PLAYER RATINGS: Neto – 7. Barca’s substitute goalkeeper made a fine save from Juanmi on 63 but couldn’t stop the shouldered effort of former Barca player Batra to equalise on 79. AFP

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  Ronald Araujo – 8. Made a fine block from Juanmi on 61 after appearing form nowhere. The Uruguayan is becoming a huge player for Barca and Xavi, whose side were ninth when he took over. Excellent in the air again. Reuters

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  Jordi Alba – 8. Set up Fati’s equaliser, then hit a 93rd minute rocket, a left foot volley, to win the match – and make sure his team play Champions League football next season. “It’s a shame we started to win too late this season,” he said. “Barcelona should be fighting for every objective, but we will finish second.” AP

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  Dani Alves – 7. Felt the words of his mannager during the first half as Barca struggled against the Copa del Rey winners, but then provided the assist with a ball across the box in the 93rd minute. Booked. Getty

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  Sergio Busquets – 8. Excellent in a battle against Carvalho in a high-quality game where Betis were on top in the first half. Xavi has really got the best put of his former teammate. He touched the ball 104 times. Alba had 94 touches and then Alves was next with 69. Busquets remains vital. AP

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  Gavi – 6. Had muscular problems and had to go off after 79 minutes, but he celebrated crazily as Barca scored the winner. AP

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  Frenkie De Jong – 7. Neat, progressive, intelligent without being the main man against a side who hadn’t kept a clean sheet against Barca at home for 40 years. AP

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  Ousmane Dembele – 8. Xavi was insisting that his players get the ball to Dembele since he’s so creative. Took on his men, delivered crosses. Still inconsistent within games, but hugely exciting. AP

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  Ferran Torres – 7. More shots (3) than any other Barca player, but he’s not prolific and hasn’t scored in more than 600 minutes. Front men at this club need to do more. AFP

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  Memphis Depay – 6. Curled a shot on 32 in one of the Catalans rare first half chances. Made two key passed but went quiet and was the first player to be brought off. AP

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  SUBS: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Depay 66’) – 6. Replaced Memphis, the man he was rested for, but didn’t threaten the Betis goal. Reuters

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  Adama Traore (Dembele 74’) – 6. Lively cameo. AP

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  Ansu Fati (Torres 74’) – 8. Scored the first goal of the game a minute after coming on, wrong-footing the goalkeeper with an awkwardly hit shot against the team whom he was first seriously injured against in 2020. “He’s a kid who will great value for this club,” said Alba, “And we’re happy for him because he’s suffered a lot.” EPA

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  Riqui Puig (Gavi 79’) – N/A. Howled at with instructions from those around him from his first minute on the pitch. Reuters

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said a weight had been lifted after a last-gasp 2-1 La Liga win at Real Betis on Saturday night secured Champions League qualification.

Substitute Ansu Fati put Barca ahead with a low shot towards the left corner in the 76th minute, only for Betis defender - and former Barca player - Marc Bartra to level three minutes later.

Jordi Alba then grabbed a stunning winner deep in injury time, lashing the ball past goalkeeper Rui Silva with a superbly-taken, first-time volley.

With the league title already sealed by Real Madrid, Barcelona are now second on 69 points in the standings, five points clear of Sevilla in third and eight ahead of Atletico Madrid in fourth, both with one game in hand.

"We have taken a weight off our shoulders. It could have been a more complicated and difficult season," Xavi said. "It is clear that we have to play better. We have to analyse it, but we have made a titanic effort from November until now.

"We will be in the Champions League, the competition we deserve. Now we want to be second (in the league)."

It marks an impressive turnaround since Xavi replaced the sacked Ronaldo Koeman in November, when Barcelona were ninth in La Liga. Particularly pleasing for the Catalans was the goalscoring return of Fati, who found the net less than two minutes after coming onto the pitch having been sidelined with another long-term injury.

"They were two great goals," Xavi added. "Ansu makes a difference.

"The second goal was earned. It's a great goal, the cross, the finish... we worked on it yesterday. We knew that they stop on the edge of the box. When what you worked on works, it's the best feeling."

Barcelona, who have won 10 of their last 12 league matches, are close to wrapping up second place and earning the €3.4 million ($3.58m) the club would make by competing in the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.

Both Copa del Rey finalists – winners Betis and runners-up Valencia – will be joined in the 2023 Spanish Super Cup finals by the top two teams in the La Liga standings.

Betis, meanwhile, missed an opportunity to move level on points with fourth-placed Atletico in their bid to secure a spot in Champions League next season, as they remain fifth with 58 points.

Before the match, Barcelona gave a guard of honour to the Betis players for their cup victory last month.

Andy Mitten has provided his Barcelona player ratings from the match at Benito Villamarin in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.