A Tense Evening: FC Barcelona Versus Sevilla Result And What We Learned

Sevilla almost sneaked one

In a spill to Jules Koundé from a place kick , the Frenchman hit just wide past a grounded Ter Stegen.

And the same man proved their savior

Clearing off the road , Koundé made sure a place kick round the 20th minute from Messi didn't fly into the highest corner past Tomas Vaclik.

A second Messi place kick was also on track shortly after

But Vaclik had it under enough control to form a standing catch.

There wasn't far more to talk of during a half that ended 0-0

Save for a mass pushing match started by Messi confronting Diego Carlos, after the Brazilian had chopped Suarez.

As for the action on the entire , though, Barça seemed to have their hosts pinned back sometimes , with Rakitic again smart and attempting to involve Braithwaite down their shared left . it had been generally a scrappy affair, which appeared like it'd be later decided by the best of details, if at all.

Setien would are fairly content within the room , one would have thought, and deliberating over which changes he could make once the time came within the next 45 could have therefore caused some internal turmoil.


Perhaps that’s why it took a relative age to form a substituion, then

The last half began as cagey because the first had finished, with neither outfit afforded huge chances.

Messi’s Argentina teammate and shut friend Ever Banega looked to form an impression upon replacing Oliver Torres at the interval. And on 63 minutes, Setien decided to introduce Arthur and hook Braithwaite, with Vidal then seeming to occupy the Dane’s spot on the left of the attacking trident.

Three dead balls tried and failed by Messi

Hacked by Fernando, this point the Ballon d’Or winner’s effort was tipped over by Vaclik.

Setien took advantage of the water break to form his second switch

As soon because the hydration pit stop had concluded, Griezmann supplanted Vidal and eventually the MSG was reunited for the last quarter-hour approximately .

Before that, Barça had been lucky to not be punished on a counter attack

We were ready up for an epic final 10 minutes

A stalemate still playing out, what happened from 80 onwards plus stoppage time could have great importance within the title race and the way the highest four finishes.

Suarez couldn’t seal it

In space within the box, Alba squared a bouncer to him but the off-key Pistolero couldn’t keep his laces blast down.

Nor could Real Madrid loanee Sergio Reguilon

How his regular employers would have thanked him for hitting range in the six-yarder. Intead, he knocked it straight into Ter Stegen’s path and made little work for the German.

Puig was Setien’s last gamble

Impressed by his late cameo against Leganes, Setien allowed the La Masia fruit to enter for Rakitic on 89.

The ball is now in Real Madrid’s court

Just three behind now as against usual five when Barça have won as lately , a victory for Los Blancos over Real Sociedad can put them level on points with their eternal enemies.