A recognizable and battered Barça loses the lead to a stellar Sevilla

Nightmare from the start

The match could not have started worse for a Barça that stepped onto the pitch completely asleep. After 15 minutes, they were already behind on the scoreboard, following a very disputed penalty committed by Ronald Araújo on a Sevilla attacker, which Alexis converted coldly. By that time, Gerard Martín had already been booked for cutting off a dangerous counterattack from the Andalusian team. Without control or clarity in possession, the azulgranas were unable to react against a rival that grew supported by their fans. The start could not have been more disappointing for Flick, who tried to change the course by introducing tactical adjustments. Before the 20th minute, the German coach moved pieces: Marcus Rashford went to the left and Ferran Torres to the right. However, the changes had little effect, and Barça continued to be sluggish and overwhelmed by Sevilla´s intensity.

An electric and devastating Sevilla

The home team had several clear opportunities to extend their lead. Carmona and Isaac tried, with the latter having the clearest chance in the 27th minute, but Szczesny denied the goal with a superb save. A minute later, the Chilean again tested the Polish goalkeeper, this time with a crossed shot. In the 34th minute, Isaac found himself alone in front of the goalkeeper, but his lack of precision gave Barça some breathing room. The Sevilla forward could have gone into halftime with a hat-trick if he had been more accurate, but he finally got rewarded. With a well-organized and supportive Sevilla in their pressing, the second goal came after a perfect counterattack initiated by Vargas and finished by Isaac Romero. In added time, the Nervión side was very close to sealing the match with a third goal. However, football always holds surprises. Just when it seemed that Barça was heading to the locker room without answers, Rashford appeared to connect a magnificent shot from a cross by Pedri and reduce the deficit before halftime.

A reaction that did not reach

During halftime, Flick moved the bench again and had Balde and Eric García warm up. The adjustments gave the team a bit more stability, which began to show more solidity, although Sevilla continued to generate danger. It wasn´t until the 70th minute that Barça began their siege in search of the equalizer. Then, Adnan Januzaj, just entered, committed a penalty on Alejandro Balde. Robert Lewandowski took responsibility but missed the shot. The Pole wasted a clear opportunity that could have changed the course of the match and brought Barça back into the fight for the lead. That mistake gave wings to a Sevilla that felt even stronger and more determined to close the match.

Overwhelmed and soulless

In the 81st minute, Roony Bardghji had the clearest chance to equalize: he faced Odysseas alone, but inexplicably shot at the goalkeeper´s body. In the final stretch, Barça desperately sought the goal, sending balls into the area without success. In the 87th minute, Akor Adams scored what seemed to be the 3-1, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, Sevilla did not lower their arms. In the 90th minute, José Ángel Carmona scored the third goal with a powerful right-footed shot that was impossible for Szczesny. And, in stoppage time, Akor Adams took advantage of a lightning counterattack to make it 4-1 definitive and close a historic night at the Pizjuán.

Painful defeat and many doubts

Barça left humiliated from Sevilla in one of the weakest matches of the Flick era. The team lost the precision that used to characterize it and never showed firmness, despite having had two very clear chances —one from Lewandowski and another from Bardghji— to equalize the score in one of the most challenging stadiums in LaLiga. After the defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, the azulgranas have accumulated their second consecutive defeat, just before an international break that presents a vital opportunity to redirect the course and regain sensations.