Barca Slip Up Found in Title Race After Dropping Points
20 June, 2020
LaLiga
Result: Sevilla 0-0 FC Barcelona
Date: 19 June 2020
Venue: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
FC Barcelona were not able to move five points clear at the top of the LaLiga table after they were placed to a goalless pull by Sevilla on Friday night.
Barca re-shuffled the pack, with Luis Suarez making his begin since January while Jordi Alba returned from his suspension. Other changes included Martin Braithwaite, Nelson Semedo and Arturo Vidal.
The sides weren't giving much away in the opening exchanges, with the Catalan giants producing the game a close contest by pressing Sevilla high up the pitch.
Quique Setien's fees came the closest to beginning the scoring found in the 20th minute, as Lionel Messi curled a good free-kick from the border of the box but Jules Kounde was on the goal-line to head the ball above the bar.
The game was turning out to be a tactical affair, especially with the momentum heading down following the water break midway through the first stanza and the sides cannot carve out clear chances.
However, the first stages of the second stanza got fireworks, with Sevilla pinning back Blaugrana, who had been lucky not to go behind just before the hour-mark immediately after shot-stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced two brilliant will save to deny Lucas Ocampos and Munir El Haddadi within two minutes.
Setien's troops were getting back into the overall game with 20 a few minutes remaining, seeing that Messi came close again to breaking the deadlock with a good free-kick from 25-yards out that was kept out by shot-stopper Tomas Vaclik.
The game opened up from then on with Barcelona getting the momentum but their spirit was dampened by the next water break midway through the next stanza and Setien used the possibility to bring about Antoine Griezmann in place of Vidal.
Julen Lupetegui's fees were under siege in the closing minutes, as Suarez had a glorious opportunity in the last three minutes after Alba picked him away at the heart of the box with a cross from the remaining channel but his first-time strike sailed over the bar.
Sevilla had a large potential for their own from a good counter-attack in stoppage time after Real Madrid loanee Sergio Reguilon latched onto a cut-back at the heart of the box but his close range shot was first smothered by ter Stegen.
Setien's males pushed for the winner found in added time nonetheless they were kept away seeing as the sides shared the spoils, with Barca remaining near the top of the log with 65 points but only three points before second-placed Real Madrid are in action on Sunday.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za