Sevilla FC v FC Barcelona: Late rally comes up short in 2–1 defeat

Sevilla FC v FC Barcelona: Late rally comes up short in 2–1 defeat

Barça fall at the Sánchez Pizjuán for second loss in last three league games; Neymar scores on second-half penalty kick

Second-half goals from Michael Krohn-Dehli and Vicente Iborra were enough to give Sevilla a 2–1 upset victory over visiting FC Barcelona on Saturday afternoon at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville, Spain. The Catalans clawed one back on a Neymar penalty kick but Sevilla managed to hang on despite Barça’s relentless effort to draw level in the final minutes. Luis Enrique’s side hit the post three times en route to their second league defeat in their last three games.

Krohn-Dehli slotted home a cross from Kevin Gameiro to open the scoring in the 52nd minute and four minutes later Iborra made it 2–0 when he nodded in past FC Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who was playing for the first time since Barça’s home opener at Camp Nou on 29 August.

Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico then made the game's two best saves, miraculously batting away a pair of shots by Neymar that were both headed into the net.

Barça finally scored in the 73rd minute when Benoît Trémoulinas was whistled for a handball in the Sevilla area. Neymar, making his 100th appearance for Barça, took the spot kick and beat Rico, who guessed correctly but was unable to make the save.

Denied by the woodwork

FC Barcelona came tantalisingly close to getting on the scoreboard midway through the first half when Neymar’s 25-metre direct kick caromed between the post and the back of Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico before trickling from post to post right on top of the goal line. Barça defender Gerard Piqué arrived just late and Sevilla’s Coke made a heroic clearance to keep the match scoreless. Video replays showed the ball never fully crossed over the line and into the goal.

It was the first of three Barça shots to hit the woodwork on the afternoon. Suárez floated a shot off the crossbar in the 38th, while Sandro rattled the post in the 80th minute following a long sprint and a cross from Suárez.

Força Barça
Força Barça

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