Let's not fall into temptation: the hot notes from Barça-Betis

BarcelonaBarça closes a perfect home season with a new victory. The azulgranas beat Betis on the day that Robert Lewandowski said goodbye to the azulgrana fans after four seasons. Here are some immediate thoughts.

Always a dish on the table, Robert. The Camp Nou paid tribute to a key player in preventing Barça from going through a desert for many years. Without a doubt, a historic signing for the club and Laporta's most important since he regained the presidency. He was criticized for being too expensive and old, but the numbers speak for themselves after four seasons of irreproachable dedication. Without the goals –119, quite a lot– from a generational striker like Lewandowski, the titles celebrated first under Xavi Hernández and then under Hansi Flick could not be understood. At almost 38 years old, he leaves Barça with his head held high. It will be very difficult to find a replacement of his caliber. Key weeks are coming in the offices in this regard.

More necessary goodbyes. Besides Lewandowski, who deserved a farewell that Messi would have liked, there will have to be more departures before and after the World Cup so that the club can strengthen itself precisely with a starting striker. Against Betis, only one of the candidates to leave the club started: Jules Kounde. His late-season form raises doubts and makes him an interesting option to generate cash. Muted in the League celebrations, the Frenchman has a reputation in the Premier League and would help generate salary space for players like João Pedro, much to Deco's liking. If he ends up leaving, he will have to be remembered with affection for being Lamine Yamal's first great partner and for his dramatic goal in the 2025 Copa final.

He cannot be lost. Siren songs have also been heard –Saudi ones, in this case– about a possible departure of Raphinha. One might think that the Brazilian has already given his best days as a blaugrana and that now is the time to transfer him for a fortune. But Barça cannot afford more departures of talent –and goals– after that of Lewandowski. In this case, we are also talking about a leader of the squad, a committed player even though he broke with his national team before the crucial part of the season. Despite his instability, he will finish the season with more than 20 goals and almost 10 assists. Furthermore, he has the knack to improve the team in direct free kicks. Good proof of this is the first of the two goals he scored against Betis.

22 goals are no use. The Camp Nou, an impregnable fortress in La Liga this season, witnessed a match without competitive tension. Great contrast with the drama saved by Espanyol in Pamplona and the complaints of an unfortunate Girona in the Metropolitano. The biggest loser of the day was Mallorca, who have one foot and three-quarters in the Second Division after falling in Ciutat de València. Demichelis' team directly needs a miracle to stay up. It's hard to believe they are about to lose their category with a street-smart striker like Muriqi. Only Mbappé (24) has scored more goals than the Kosovar (22). In modern football, you need much more than a goalscorer to avoid complicating your life.