FC Barcelona moved to the lawn of the Sánchez-Pizjuán to face the Seville FC, this Sunday, October 5, as part of the 8th day of Liga. An always special poster between two historic clubs in the Spanish championship. For this meeting, Hansi Flick had to deal with many absences: Fermin Lopez, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Gavi or Joan Garcia. Flick aligned a 4-2-3-1 led by Robert Lewandowski at the forefront, supported by Rashford, Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres. Pedri and Frenkie de Jong formed the duo of the midfield, while the defense was made up of Koundé, Araújo, Cubars and Gerard Martin, with Szczęsny in the cages. Opposite, the Seville FC fell on the experience of Alexis Sánchez, former Barça (2011-2014), tenured in attack, and César Azpilicueta, present in central defense alongside Marcão. The Andalusian club, on the other hand, had to do without Tanguy Nianzou, package.
The match quickly turned to the advantage of Seville FC, a dominator at the entrance to a FC Barcelona completely exceeded in the first quarter of an hour. Under constant pressure, Hansi Flick's men struggled to get out of their camp, undergoing Andalusian waves. After a first disputed contact in the surface between Araujo and Romero, the Var intervened and the penalty was granted and then transformed with composure by Alexis Sánchez, who deceived Szczęsny of a perfect opposite (1-0, 13th). Nervous, the Catalans multiplied the approximations, like Gerard Martín warned for a avoidable fault (16th), while Ferran Torres also received a yellow card (21st). On the Seville side, Marcão also took a yellow for a tackle deemed illicit (20th). Dani Olmo tried to wake up his family with a distant strike, but his attempt was finally countered. Opposite, Seville continued to push, Romero and Mendy rushing in turn on a decisive Szczęsny. But Andalusian domination ended up paying: on a new quick action, Isaac Romero made the break of an unstoppable foot (2-0, 37th). De Jong was also warned for protest (38th). Just before the break, Marcus Rashford relaunches the Barça of a superb flight from the left under the bar, on a precise center of Pedri (2-1). Despite the reduction in the score, it is a first nightmare act for Barça, feverish and without reaction, still affected by defeat against PSG in the Champions League.
Lewandowski's missed penalty, turning from the match
The second period started with a double change for Barça, Baldé and Eric García replacing Gerard Martín and Araújo, a sign of Hansi Flick's will to relaunch a defense in difficulty. From the outset, the Catalans displayed a better face, taking control of the ball and pushing higher. Lewandowski was dangerous at the outset, before Pedri and Dani Olmo solicited the Sevillian goalkeeper Vlachodimos, author of two decisive parades at the 65th. Despite this domination, FC Barcelona exposed himself against, Szczęsny still having to work to keep his own in the game. The Andalusian, well in place, resisted thanks to a compact block and an aggressive pressing, symbolized by the big work of Isaac Romero, then replaced by Akor Adams at the 61st.
However, the hope returned to Barça when a penalty was granted after a fault by Januzaj on Baldé, but Lewandowski missed the opportunity to equalize by sending his strike next to the frame … Rony Bardghji, very active since its entry, then had the 2-2 ball, but stopped on an impeccable Vlachodimos. In a tense end of the match, Seville was able to be more sharp and definitively sealed the meeting thanks to a goal from José ángel Carmona (3-1, 90th). Barça even sank at the very end of the meeting after Adams' goal (4-1, 96th). A frustrating setback for feverish and ineffective blaugranas, clearly orphans of Lamine Yamal, whose creativity has missed in the last meters. With this result, FC Barcelona lets spinning points spinning and sees Real Madrid fly alone at the top of the liga with 21 points. The Catalans remain dolphins with 19 units, while Seville performs the beautiful operation by climbing in 4th place with 13 points, just behind Villarreal.
