This is how Barça lost the lead

The azulgranas were thrashed by a very superior Sevilla and head into the international break with two consecutive defeats —one in Champions League and another in LaLiga—, also ceding the lead to Real Madrid after eight matchdays.

A controversial refereeing

The culé defeat was marked, in part, by the refereeing performance. The referee Muñiz Ruiz and his assistant in the VAR, Del Cerro Grande, made very disputed decisions. First, they awarded a non-existent penalty by Ronald Araújo on Isaac Romero that allowed Sevilla to open the scoring. Later, they ignored a possible foul on Koundé in the second Andalusian goal, increasing the discomfort on the blaugrana bench.

A team without response

With two goals against, this time there was no comeback like those achieved in Oviedo or Levante. The most notable aspect of the first half was the scoreline —which did not reflect Sevilla´s superiority— and the heroic interventions of Szczesny, who prevented at least a couple more goals. Just before halftime, Marcus Rashford appeared with a stunning goal that gave a glimmer of hope to the team. The azulgrana defense, however, was a complete disaster. The pressure on the ball holder was ineffective and the incursions from Sevilla´s second line generated constant danger. What last season was one of the greatest virtues of Flick´s system —high pressing and advanced defense— has become a weak point that rivals already know how to exploit. During halftime, the German coach tried to correct the course by leaving Araujo and Gerard Martín on the bench and introducing Eric García and Balde. With these changes, he sought a cleaner exit from the back and a better response to the individual marking proposed by Matías Almeyda.

Missed opportunities and a severe punishment

Despite the adjustments, Barça had opportunities to equalize. Robert Lewandowski, very subdued throughout the match, missed a penalty caused by Balde. Additionally, Roony Bardghji had two clear chances but failed to beat the Sevilla goalkeeper. In the final minutes, Sevilla took advantage of the spaces to seal the deal on the counter. Two goals in stoppage time sealed the thrashing and confirmed the heaviest defeat of the Flick era, highlighting the defensive shortcomings of the azulgrana team.

The break, a necessary breather

The month of October has not started well for Barça, who are accumulating physical and mental fatigue. Flick has had difficulties making rotations due to the numerous injuries in his squad. The international break comes at an opportune moment: it will serve to recover players like Raphinha, Fermín, and possibly Lamine Yamal, who could be available after the pause. It will also be a valuable time for Flick to reflect and seek urgent solutions to the defensive problems that are costing points week after week. The message is clear: reacting is mandatory if Barça wants to return to the fight for the championship and regain lost confidence.