Sevilla 0-2 Barcelona: Match Review; Messi and Dembele step up | OneFootball

First-half

Barcelona against a top-four side in La Liga? It could not go well, could it?

Well, Ronald Koeman chose the right team in the right formation and played a perfect game to keep Sevilla at bay. The three defenders accompanied bu a mobile midfield gave the visitors more stability and serenity at the back.

In attack, the combination of a genius like Lionel Messi and a speedster in Ousmane Dembélé wrecked the Sevillan defence. After a dull first 30 minutes, the Catalans woke up after the opener and annihilated one of the best Spanish football sides. The Catalans performance was sumptuous, and they deserved to be ahead at the Pizjuán.

Half-time: Sevilla 0-1 Barcelona

Second-half

Another great display from Barcelona. The Catalan giants were the best throughout most of the half, and the attackers continued to wreck the Andalusian defence.

There were many opportunities, but all of them were for the visitors. Julen Lopetegui’s men were toothless, and Barcelona controlled both the midfield and the attack.

In the end, Barcelona kept their cool and defeated a usually great Sevilla side. This was perhaps the best Blaugrana display of the season, and they need to show the same fight against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey in midweek.

Full-time: Sevilla 0-2 Barcelona

Key moments

22′ Quick counter-attack from Barcelona as Frenkie de Jong sends Ousmane Dembélé forward. The Frenchman does his trademark fake shot, but his effort does not trouble Yassine Bounou.

29′ GOAL! Sevilla 0-1 Barcelona: Lionel Messi gets the ball around the centre circle. Dembélé is running in behind the defence and gets the ball perfectly at his feet. The Frenchman finds the back of the net.

40′ Barcelona win the ball again near the middle of the pitch. Messi gets it across to Sergiño Dest, who gets past the defender but skies his shot.

51′ Messi gets the ball again near the middle of the pitch. The captain spots Dembélé, who runs with the ball to open the space for de Jong. The Dutchman is in acres of space and gets the ball across to Jordi Alba, who misses the ball completely.

59′ Barcelona pass the ball around, and their beautiful move ends with Alba getting the ball in the box. The Spaniard’s cross is met by Dembélé, who shoots on a Sevilla defender, but Dest gets the rebound. The American’s attempt is superb but hits the post.

61′ Jordi Alba finds Dembélé in front of the defence. The Frenchman makes a dummy run and gets into the box. He stops, does his fake shot and waits for a late run from Messi. The captain skies the shot.

85′ GOAL! Sevilla 0-2 Barcelona: Messi and Ilaix Moriba play a beautiful one-two in front of the Sevillan box. Messi, in front of Bounou, shoots straight at him but gets the rebound and doubles the lead.