He needed a turning point and FC Barcelona could have found it against Sevilla. A draw (1-1) in Nervión that knows little seen how the game was, but that leaves good feelings to a team that needs points but also self-esteem and re-believes in itself and its possibilities. The stick avoided the jackpot in the last moments, avoiding Dembélé’s goal that would have meant victory.
At least Barça was required to compete at the Sánchez Pizjuán in Seville, an imposing stadium, a pressure cooker that not even the heavy rain was able to put out. The team is more that of Xavi Hernández and was seen again during the first 20 minutes. An eleven with a single change compared to the one that won Elche, the entry of Piqué by Lenglet, which locked Sevilla in their own field in a beginning of culé dominance. Jutglà, who came out especially plugged, led the high pressure that suffocated Sevilla accompanied by Dembélé and Abde and with the whole team behind. Until the forces lasted because with that intensity it was very difficult to endure the entire match.
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Sevilla, meanwhile, reacted after a goal disallowed by Rafa Mir. The Seville forward started offside, but that action woke up the locals, who had seen how Barça had approached with a couple of shots from Jutglà from outside the area and in a corner kick that ended with the dead ball in front of Bono.
When it was half an hour, Mir would again warn with a shot from the front that reminded Lopetegui’s men and his people that he could hurt a tender Barcelona that was beginning to suffer. And so, due to lack of experience, the smartest in the class appeared. Papu Gómez, who showed that he was tying his boots like someone who is not in the game, stood alone near the penalty spot to finish off a ball served from the corner that came low. Abde arrived late and Ter Stegen, covered, did not move seeing how the tight shot of the Argentine entered.
Sevilla-Barça, in images
But Barça was able to get back on track, something that was especially difficult for them in the last games. He knew how to suffer on the canvas and rebuild himself thanks to having the ball again. Thus, he had his prize before the break and also from set pieces in the last minute before halftime. Araujo came in with everything to finish off a cross thrown by Dembélé from the near post. The Uruguayan turned his head perfectly to place the ball away from Bono.
In the resumption, Sevilla wanted to take a step forward to try to stop another initial Barça avalanche. A couple of shots from Delaney and another from Rafa Mir were a declaration of intent that put the Catalans on alert, who maintained the intention of dominating the game with the ball, with long possessions. They succeeded at times, although the Seville team began to press up and make it difficult for Barcelona to leave.
Red to Koundé for a ball
Those of Xavi, as soaked as he was restless from his technical area, did not lose face to the game and Abde tried with a high left foot after a dribble from inside the area. Although the key play of the game came at 64 minutes. Kounde wins a throw-in under pressure from two Barcelona players. In the dispute, because the French had put the body, he received Alba’s contact and the Sevilla central defender lost the papers. He grabbed the ball with his hand and threw a ball into the face of the Barça side, who was just ahead.
Against ten, Barça moved the bench. Lenglet entered for the injured Eric, who left with a strong blow to the side, and Nico in the place of an exhausted Jutglà. The Catalans went for the game because they were able to do something great against a category rival. They locked up Sevilla and Gavi had a first great chance with ten minutes to go. A center from Abde that the Sevillian headed out for very little.
Although the best was for Dembélé. The Frenchman, in an action from the right, took a left foot that was spat out by the far post. The post, with the goal already beaten, avoided the goal.
Barça shook until the end and Sevilla kept drawing water, locked in their own area. In the last gasp, Alba had a shot from the front that Bono cut. Finally, Barça was left with a draw that brings them a little closer to the Champions zone, the first objective, which time is only two points away.
DATASHEET:
SEVILLA FC, 1: Bono (3); Koundé (1), Diego Carlos (2), Fernando (2), Rekik (1); Rakitic (2) (Gudelj, 2, 70 ‘), Delaney (3) (Agustinsson, 85’), Jordan (2); Ocampos (2), Rafa Mir (2) (En-Nesiry, 2, 70 ‘), Papu Gómez (3) (Juanlu, 85’).
FC BARCELONA, 1: Ter Stegen (2); Eric (3) (Lenglet, 2, 72 ‘), Piqué (3), Araujo (3), Alba (3); Busquets (3), De Jong (2), Gavi (3); Dembélé (3), Jutglà (2) (Nico, 2, 72 ‘), Abde (2).
Referee: Carlos del Cerro Grande (Madrid). He admonished the locals Delaney (35 ‘) and Juanlu (86’) and the visitors Busquets (12 ‘), Abde (73’), Gavi (76 ‘). He sent off Koundé with a direct red (64 ‘).
Attendance: 31,358 spectators at Sánchez Pizjuán.