FC Barcelona emerge victorious over Sevilla after a tense game at the Montjuic Stadium that the Catalan giants are rather lucky to emerge victorious from. An own goal by former Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos was the one that ensured all three points went to La Blaugrana.
With this victory, Barcelona temporarily go top of the La Liga table with 1 point more than previous leaders Girona. Much to Barca’s pleasure however, the next game for both Girona and third-placed Real Madrid will be against one another in a few hours from this game.
Here is how the Barcelona players fared in their game against Sevilla:
Player Ratings:
Ter Stegen: 7.0
The German was a defining reason to keep Barcelona in this game. The Barcelona captain made several good saves and his distribution left nothing more to desire after a great performance throughout.
Joao Cancelo: 7.0
The Portuguese fullback was exceptional when it came to chance creation and even did his part to make sure he was defensively sound for Barcelona. His offensive contributions at times seem to become the most creative option amongst the Barca players.
Jules Kounde: 7.5
The French central defender ensured that Sevilla remained at bay for as long as possible and made several key interceptions and interventions. His positioning and skill on the ball were both key for Barcelona in this game.
Andreas Christensen: 7.0
The Danish defender had a decent outing, one in which he mostly remained untroubled. His positional understanding and distribution were both quite reliable in the game and he showcased why he remains such a consistent performer.
Alejandro Balde: 6.5
Quick and consistently threatening on the flank, Balde came into some very promising positions but was unable to find that final pass on occasions. Decent performance overall from the 19-year-old.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7.0
The experienced German midfielder showcased his great footwork on more than one occasion and was at times the most mature player on the field by a mile. His passes and astute vision were both fundamental in opening some great spaces for the Catalans.
Gavi: 8.0
Covered close to 12km in terms of his total distance covered, the young Golden Boy winner was relentless for Barcelona. His aggression and determination to win every duel he participated in were both vital for Barca’s narrow victory.
Raphinha: 6.5
Looked promising initially and made some daring runs into the Sevilla box. However, Raphinha was injured early on by the 35th minute and had to be substituted to receive treatment.
Joao Felix: 6.5
More or less frustrating on the night, the Portuguese star had his promising moments but seemed contained for much of the game. He did have a few good chances and positions where he should have made more out of his opportunities.
Robert Lewandowski: 7.0
The Polish striker was intent on making a difference and consistently attempted some great tricks in his arsenal but was ultimately unable to get his goal. Good performance on the field from the Barcelona ace whatsoever.
Lamine Yamal: 7.5
Initially seemed to be hesitant about playing his usual football, Lamine Yamal gradually asserted himself into the game. Ultimately, it was his last header that further led to Sergio Ramos scoring the own goal that helped Barcelona.
Substitutes:
Fermin Lopez: 7.5
Came on early in place of the injured Raphinha, but Fermin Lopez had an immediate impact and came close to scoring not too long after. His consistent pressure and immaculate footwork when in possession of the ball were both great to watch.
Ferran Torres: 6.0
The ‘Shark’ came into certain positions from where he arguably should have done more from, but was either denied by Sevilla’s defense or simply prolonged his own decision-making. Decent cameo but could have been something much more.
Oriol Romeu: N/A
Not enough time or involvement in the game to warrant a rating.
