Sevilla 1 - 3 Barcelona: and who can stop Raphinha? | OneFootball

The Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium hosted today’s Sevilla vs Barça match on Matchday 7 of LaLiga EA Sports. Hansi Flick’s side were hoping to claim their seventh win in seven matches by visiting a stadium where they lost 4-1 last season. García Plaza’s men were aiming for their third consecutive victory.

First half

The first half began with a brave Sevilla side, but Barça controlling possession. The home side came out pressing well, defending compactly, and leaving no space for Barça to find runs in behind the defense. Flick’s side had their first shot in the 7th minute. Lamine Yamal unleashed a left-footed effort from a long way out (more than 26 meters). Vlachodimos got a slight touch on it and the ball crashed against the post.

Barça’s early dominance was often overshadowed by a strong Sevilla performance, as they were enjoying a good start and frequently played through Barça’s initial press, but without managing to get a shot on target against Dominik Livakovic, who was making his debut today due to Joan Garcia’s absence.

Sevilla’s first shot brought the opening goal of the match. In the 19th minute, Correia latched onto a through ball, reached the byline, and delivered a driven cross for Fofana, who had gotten in front of Cubarsí, to finish at the near post and score.

Fofana’s celebration. Source: LaLiga.

Barça reacted very well to the goal. Just 2 minutes later, in the 21st minute, Christensen found Raphinha with a vertical pass. The Brazilian cut inside brilliantly past Sangante and beat Vlachodimos with a low finish.

The Barça captain’s celebration. Source: x.com.

After Barça’s equalizer, Sevilla once again enjoyed a very good spell, continuing to press and forcing mistakes from Hansi Flick’s players. Even so, they still had not managed another shot on target at Livakovic’s goal.

Barça were finding the game very difficult, unlike in their earlier matches this season, credit to García Plaza’s side, who were very well organized at the back and forced Hansi Flick’s players into long-range efforts, something that was not working well for them. In fact, in the closing minutes of the first half, it was Sevilla who had the clearer chances. In the 40th minute, Correia received a cutback from Robbie Ure. The Milan loanee, however, shot wide.

Martínez Munuera added 4 minutes to the first half. The score was still 1-1 at the end of stoppage time. Sevilla were achieving what no team had managed so far: matching Barça blow for blow and stopping Flick’s side.

Second half

In the first minute of the second half, Lamine Yamal shot from the edge of the box. Barça’s number 10 saw his effort go just wide. A minute later, Yamal had another chance after Sevilla lost the ball near their area. Fermín slipped it to the Mataró-born player, but his shot again went just wide of the post.

The second half had started with Barça on top. Flick’s side were pinning García Plaza’s men back in their own half. In the 51st minute, after a great recovery by Lamine Yamal, he delivered an excellent cross to Raphinha, who got in front of Sangante to head home Barça’s second goal.

Flick’s players celebrating. Source: LaLiga.

In the 56th minute, Christensen picked up a muscular problem in a challenge with Robbie Ure. The referee stopped a dangerous Sevilla attack, much to the displeasure of the home fans. Barça’s center-back had to be replaced by Gerard Martín.

Little by little, although Sevilla had reacted well to Barça’s second goal, it was the Catalans who controlled the game. In the 63rd minute, Raphinha whipped in a very tight corner and, after nobody got a touch, the ball struck the post. Barça’s captain came close to scoring directly from the corner.

In the 69th minute, Raphinha scored again. Barça beat Sevilla’s press, and Lamine Yamal received a good ball with space to run at the defense. He played a superb through ball for the Barça captain, who, faced with Vlachodimos rushing out, lifted the ball over him to complete his hat-trick and score his 12th LaLiga goal.

Raphinha’s hat-trick celebration. Source: LaLiga.

With Barça’s third goal, they once again took control of possession and pinned Sevilla back in their own half. The home side seemed to have thrown in the towel after putting in such a huge effort throughout the match, especially in the first half.

In the 75th minute, Flick decided to substitute Raphinha, after his goals, for Adeyemi. The German coach moved Anthony Gordon into the center-forward role and placed Barça’s number 14 out wide. In the Englishman’s first few minutes up front, he failed to finish two clear openings.

In the final minutes of the match, Barça continued to dominate. In the 88th minute, from a wide free kick, Olmo shot on goal. Vlachodimos had to stretch to deny Barça a fourth goal. In the 90th minute, after a brilliant solo run that left Juan Iglesias beaten, Adeyemi went one-on-one with Vlachodimos. The Greek goalkeeper once again saved his team with a superb stop.

At the end of the match, after 5 minutes of added time, Barça won again in a game where they struggled to find space and create shooting chances.Another hat-trick for Raphinha, who remains in red-hot form with 12 goals in 7 league matches, 14 in 8 including the Champions League.

Match details:

Lineups:

Sevilla: Vlachodimos; Juan Iglesias, Sangante (67', Carmona), Castrín, Suazo; Kochorashvili (67', Isaac Romero), Agoumé; Miguel Sierra (78', Alfon), Fofana (78', Guridi), Félix Correia (58', Ejuke); Robbie Ure

Barça: Livakovic; Eric, Cubarsí, Christensen (58', Gerard Martín), João Cancelo; Pedri (85', Bernal), Rodri; Lamine Yamal, Fermín (75', Olmo), Gordon (85', Gabriel Jesús); Raphinha (75', Adeyemi)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.