Sevilla 0-0 Barcelona
Barcelona were held to a goalless draw at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuain as third-placed Sevilla frustrated the champions with a disciplined display.
It leaves the Blaugrana three points clear at the top of La Liga, but second-placed Real Madrid have a game in hand while Sevilla will be happy with the point which will keep them in the hunt for a Champions League place.
The pre-match Sevilla vs Barcelona Betting odds had the draw at odds of 3.40, and we billed this a Barca’s biggest test so far — and so it proved to be.
Highlights of the game
In a lively start, Seville skipper Jesus Navas had a shot blocked at one end, and then when Nelson Semedo slid the ball to Luis Suarez, his shot was held by Tomas Vaclik. Sevilla defender Jules Kounde found space in the Barca box, but he screwed his shot wide.
Messi bagged his 21st goal of the season in last week’s victory over Leganes and he started the game six clear of Karim Benzema in the race for the Golden Boot. He went in search of his 22nd but his left-footed strike from outside the area was charged down. Then, Ivan Rakitic tried his luck from distance but his shot flew wide.
Sevilla defender Sergio Reguilon picked up a yellow card for a clumsy foul on Messi. And in a stop-start first half, Barca centre back Gerard Pique joined him in the referee’s book when he clattered into Munir El Haddadi. The ref picked another two on the brink of half time, booking Sevilla’s Fernando and Barca’s Sergio Busquets.
After a bright opening, the first half became a game of chess with a touch of unarmed combat! But the second provided more attacking football. Lopetegui introduced Ever Banega at half time, and he took a pot shot from outside the box but it flew wide.
Sevilla top scorer Lucas Ocampos took a shot from a tight angle which Ter Stegen did well to save, and the Barca keeper was on hand again to deny the Argentine when he took a shot from the left edge of the penalty area.
As the game swung from end to end, Luis Suarez had a shot blocked and then, Ocampos met a cross from Navas but his shot was high and wide. Barca probed but were frustrated when Suarez collected a through ball from Messi but was again crowded out by a determined Sevilla defence.
Quique Setien rang the changes and brought on Antoine Griezmann, leaving young sensation Ansu Fati on the bench. The 17-year-old was sensational in Barca’s 2-0 win over Leganes last week but the boss went for experience.
Sevilla still posed an attacking threat and Ocampos again shot from a wide-angle, but Ter Stegen held on to his low effort. Barca continued to press for the elusive winner and Suarez came very close, meeting a cross from Jordi Alba and firing his first-time shot just over the bar.
The hosts had a huge chance to win the game on 90 minutes when the ball broke loose to Reguilon, but the on-loan Real Madrid man shot straight at Ter Stegen.
Key statistics
Barca enjoyed 64 per cent possession, but the shot count was more even at ten to eight with four shots on target for each team.
These are the first points dropped by the league leaders since the restart, but Sevilla are now unbeaten in nine games.
What’s next?
At the beginning of this game, Barca held a two-point lead over Real Madrid after Los Blancos completed an impressive 3-0 victory over Valencia to close the gap. The SBOBET La Liga looks like going down to the wire with Zinedine Zidane’s challengers starting so well, and Barca dropping points tonight will give them hope.
Real Madrid are away to Real Sociedad on Sunday where a win will draw them level at the top, but that will be a tough game.
Next for the Blaugrana is a home game against Athletic Club, before an away trip to relegation-threatened Celta Vigo. The Bilbao side has drawn twice since the break, the first a 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid, while Celta have picked up a solitary point against Real Valladolid.
Sevilla is away to seventh-placed Villarreal, and then at home to Valladolid who are climbing nicely away from trouble and are up to 15th.
So, folks, we have a packed week of action ahead and we’ll be back here with all the latest La Liga 2020 news, highlights and results as they happen.
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