After the 5-0 defeats, the agonizing comeback and the bad taste of Mallorca, Barcelona regained its strength and defeated Sevilla 1-0. A very competitive version for the Blaugrana, who looked for the goal from the beginning and ended up finding it in the most unexpected way, in the legs of Sergio Ramos. A tragicomic script for a very serious game. The veteran center back trembled in the area between Lamine Yamal and Fermín, two kids who are starting out in the elite. Wanting to clear a center from the winger inside, the former Madrid captain scored an own goal. An action as fortuitous as it is the result of the threat and intimidation of the last two talents in the Barça quarry. The future settled a pending account of the past.
Xavi wants fun but Barcelona was never a rock and roll team, but more of a violin orchestra. There were up to four forwards in an eleven with Lamine Yamal. After four days in which the young youth squad started on the bench, the coach thought it appropriate that he should turn to him again. Because with the 16-year-old winger, things always happen and his imbalance seemed necessary to open a crack in Sevilla's rocky defense.
Mendilibar's team is a very physical, big and muscular team. The last one to arrive, Sergio Ramos, received with whistles but who dried up Lewandowski. What Camas least thought was that, with the Pole under control, he would falter at the age of 37 against two beardless men in the key play.
Tuesday's tie was evident in Barça's desire to dominate and get rid of the thorn. Xavi proposed a more academic scheme, with Raphinha as an interior, Gündogan as a pivot and the wingers wide open. Also João Félix on the left. In five games the Portuguese is already one of the references. The ex-atlético participated in all the dangerous plays. Either with a shot from the edge of the area, with a header from a corner or with the best chance with a shot against the crossbar after receiving from Cancelo.
Barcelona's staging was very deliberate but too fast. The flow of attacks has gone from starting with Busquets to having its origin, after the captain's departure, in Frenkie de Jong and, now without the injured Dutchman, the one who came down to receive was Raphinha. The Brazilian's body asks him to march and always look at the goal but he gives little pause. That intensity serves to steal Pedrosa's wallet and ask for a penalty, compete in a sprint with Ramos or show up in the area and finish. In that third explosive effort he was injured.
Xavi chose Fermín to enter and curiously the boy's presence suited his team wonderfully. Although before that Gavi had to miraculously cross a shot from Ocampos.
The Huelva native, more interior, understood better what each action needed. Having grown up after scoring his first goal as a Blaugrana in Mallorca, little Fermín grew bigger and around him Barça felt more comfortable moving Sevilla from side to side. And he was even able to open the scoring in the first time when Lamine Yamal beat Pedrosa. The boy's cross was lowered by the other young man, who on the turn wanted to beat Nyland from below, who saw his intentions.
After the break, Sevilla resisted but fell further and further behind. With Fermín in the engine room, the harassment and demolition was constant. Xavi, in a brave decision, to bring on Ferran Torres, dispensed with João Félix, who had been diluted, and left Lamine Yamal on the field. It was a success because the Valencian and the youth player created the 1-0.
Ferran Torres crossed from the left to the other end, who jumped into the area with the intention of assisting with a header and not finishing. The delivery was for Fermín but, before it arrived, Sergio Ramos's legs trembled, he became nervous and in his attempt to avoid the goal it was he himself who surprised his goalkeeper and put the ball into the goal. The former Madrid player's misfortune was seen as a wink of fate by the Montjuïc stands, who celebrated both the goal and its authorship.
The public was happy with the carom but it was necessary not to get confused again. As their coach asked them to, Barcelona, led by Koundé, recovered the strength of last year to withstand the result and win 1-0 again, a new classic.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Joan Cancelo, Kound, Christensen, Balde, Gündogan, Gavi, Raphinha (Fermin 37), Lamine Yamal (Oriol Romeu 81), João Felix (Ferran Torres 71) and Lewandowski
Coach: Xavi Hernández
Sevilla: Nyland, Juanlu (Navas 82), Bade, Sergio Ramos, Adrià Pedrosa (Suso 82), Jordan Sow (Fernando 66), Rakitic, Ocampos, Lamela (Mariano 75) and Lukebakio (75)
Coach: José Luis Mendilibar
Stadium: Lluís Companys (41,116 spectators)
Referee: Ortiz Arias (Madrid school)
Cards: Yellow for Cancelo, Juanlu, Lamela, Badé, Gündogan
Goal: 1-0 Sergio Ramos (pp) (76)
