Sevilla Secures First Home LaLiga Victory of the Season Against Barcelona
Sevilla achieved their inaugural home win in LaLiga this season with a 4-1 triumph, bringing Barcelona’s impressive 15-match unbeaten streak on the road to an end.
Match Overview
Although Barcelona displayed a strong start at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, it was Sevilla who came closest to scoring early on, with Alexis Sanchez, a former Catalan player, threatening the Barcelona defense.
Both teams employed distinct strategies, with Sevilla focusing on applying pressure to Jules Kounde. Ruben Vargas’ efforts in this regard limited Kounde’s contributions moving forward.
Key Moments of the Match
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Sevilla’s Early Penalty:
- An early controversial penalty was awarded to Sevilla after Ronald Araujo was deemed to have fouled Isaac Romero. Alexis Sanchez confidently converted the penalty, catching Wojciech Szczesny off guard and putting Sevilla ahead.
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Barcelona’s Response:
- Unlike their usual pace, Barcelona struggled to respond immediately, with only Pedri and Marcus Rashford managing to create some chances.
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Sevilla’s Dominance:
- Sevilla continued to look dangerous, with Jose Angel Carmona nearly doubling the lead. Romero came close as well, while Szczesny made tremendous saves to deny efforts from Romero and Batista Mendy. Eventually, Sevilla’s endeavors paid off when Romero scored again after a defensive mistake from Kounde.
- Rashford’s Goal:
- Rashford had a notable miss against Sevilla’s goalkeeper but redeemed himself in first-half stoppage time, scoring with a stunning left-foot volley that reignited Barcelona’s hopes.
Second Half Developments
Upon resuming, Barcelona exerted more pressure, with substitutes Alejandro Balde and Eric Garcia injecting new energy into their offensive play. Sevilla’s threat diminished post-hour mark, relying on goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who made crucial saves against Pedri and Rashford.
Despite Sevilla’s tight defense, they faced a setback when substitute Adnan Januzaj fouled Balde, resulting in a penalty for Barcelona. Robert Lewandowski’s attempt went wide amid a chorus of boos from Sevilla supporters.
Further Chances
Barcelona squandered another opportunity with Roony Bardghji missing a clear chance, shifting momentum back to Sevilla, who then appeared in control of the match.
Late Game Actions
Akor Adams thought he’d sealed the deal in the 87th minute with a goal, but was denied by an offside call. Soon after, a swift Sevilla counterattack allowed Carmona to deliver a well-placed shot into the net.
Adams ultimately capped off the match with a fourth goal during injury time, marking Sevilla’s first LaLiga victory against Barcelona since October 2015 (4 draws, 15 losses) and ending Barcelona’s unbeaten streak of ten games in Seville (6 wins, 3 draws).
Match Highlight
Flashscore Man of the Match: Odysseas Vlachodimos (Sevilla)
For a detailed match summary, check Flashscore.
