Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona
The question my SBOTOP colleague had asked pre-match was could Barcelona’s bright youngsters bring down second placed Sevilla in La Liga?
He thought it unlikely and so did the La Liga betting odds.
There again, with the scores level and the hosts having to play the final 25 minutes with 10 men, surely this was Barca’s chance to climb into joint fourth place in the table.
After months of upheaval, including an early Champions League exit, that would be something to build on for new boss Xavi in the second half of the campaign.
Alas, even with a numerical advantage, Barcelona couldn’t muster a winner meaning more good news for their arch rivals Real Madrid who can extend their lead at the top of the table when they visit Atletico Bilbao on Wednesday night.
Highlights of the game
Granted, this is a very different period now for the Catalans who are showing signs of ushering in a new era, fed by a number of players from their academy ranks.
They travelled to Andalusia and the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium with Gerard Pique back in the team and Frenkie de Jong considered fit enough to start after he was withdrawn through fatigue at the weekend.
The likes of Sergi Roberto, Pedri, Ansu Fati, Memphis Depay and Martin Braithwaite remain injured.
Julen Lopetegui’s side were bidding for a fourth league win on the bounce and were boosted when Lucas Ocampos, the man who put a dagger through the heart of reigning champions Atletico Madrid at the weekend, was declared fit despite sustaining an injury in the same game.
There was also a strong number on the Los Nervionenses sidelines, including Erik Lamela, Suso, Oliver Torres and Jesus Navas.
On a more positive note, Youssef En-Nesyri was considered fit enough to be named on the substitutes bench.
It did not take too long for the La Liga highlights to follow and just over 20 minutes had elapsed when a long ball from Diego Carlos found Rafa Mir who expertly controlled with one touch and finished with another only for the strike to be ruled offside.
The hosts didn’t have too long to wait as a well worked corner saw former Barca man Ivan Rakitic find Papu Gomez in space and he neatly tucked the ball into the far corner.
Another corner led to the equaliser on the stroke of half-time, this time whipped in by Ousmane Dembele and thumped powerfully home by the head of Ronald Araujo.
Chances came and went for both sides after the break but it remained even until the 64th minute when Jules Kounde literally saw red, reacting to Jordi Alba’s nudge by throwing the ball straight back at the full-back’s head for which the Frenchman received a straight red card.
The next disciplinary problems were for the visitors with both Sergio Busquets and Gavi booked which means they will both be suspended for their trip to Real Mallorca at the start of the New Year.
With their advantage, Barcelona twice came close to winning the contest in the final 10 minutes.
Youngster Gavi certainly should have directed his header on target before Dembele cut onto his left foot and unleashed a curling strike which came back off the post.
There was to be no winner for either side on a night where, arguably, the only winner was Real Madrid.
Key statistics
Barcelona have won only one of their last eight away La Liga games (drawn five, lost two). However, they have not lost any games on the road in the competition under Xavi (won one, drawn two).
Sevilla have won only one of their last 29 La Liga games against Barcelona (drawn eight, lost 20), with that victory coming back in 2015.
Sevilla are unbeaten in their last 11 home La Liga games, winning nine of them.
Barcelona have never lost away from home in La Liga when playing on Tuesday (won nine, drawn five).Top of Form
Barcelona have had 16 different goalscorers in La Liga this season – the most in the competition. However, only six of these players have netted more than once in the competition.
What’s next?
There is now a short festive break for the Spanish clubs before the action returns thick n’ fast in the New Year.
Sevilla face two games in four days with an away match at Cadiz on January 3 followed by a trip to Real Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey on January 6 (Kings Day).
Barcelona are in action even earlier as they take on Mallorca in La Liga on January 2, three days before visiting lower league Linares Deportivo in the cup on January 5.
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