In a gripping LaLiga match, Sevilla humiliated Barcelona with a commanding 4-1 victory at the vibrant Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Sevilla scored first via Alexis Sánchez’s 11th-minute penalty after Ronald Araújo’s foul on Isaac Romero, then doubled their lead in the 37th minute through Romero from Ruben Vargas’ cross.
Sevilla’s high press and long balls exposed Barcelona’s shaky defense and poor offside trap. Marcus Rashford scored for Barcelona from Pedri’s cross in the 45+7th minute.
Despite a stronger second half, Barcelona couldn’t level the score against Sevilla’s solid defense.
Sevilla sealed the win with 2 counterattack goals, exploiting Barcelona’s high line.
Here are the 5 things we learned:
1. Offside Trap Needs Refinement:
Barcelona’s attempt to use an offside trap to catch Sevilla’s forwards faltered, as mistimed steps allowed runners like Romero to break through, notably for their second goal.
Poor coordination left our high line exposed, teaching us to drill the trap’s timing and communication to prevent attackers from exploiting gaps.
2. Defensive Slips Are Costly:
Early mistakes, like a penalty foul and a misplaced pass, handed Sevilla a 2-0 lead.
These errors, rare for our typically solid defense with Araújo and Cubarsí, showed how even small slip-ups can be punished by clinical sides. Sharper focus is essential.
3. Long Balls Exploit Our High Line:
Sevilla’s second goal came from a long ball that bypassed our high defensive line, leaving Szczęsny exposed and defenders stranded.
We must adjust positioning against direct teams to counter aerial switches effectively.
4. Wings Need Better Protection:
Sevilla targeted our flanks, stretching full-backs and creating overlaps. Despite Rashford’s contribution, our wing defense struggled.
Reinforcing wide areas, perhaps with midfield cover like De Jong, is key to neutralizing such threats.
5. Sevilla’s High Press Exposed Our Build-Up:
Sevilla’s intense pressing disrupted our rhythm, forcing errors in our build-up and limiting our control early on.
We learned to stay composed under pressure, using quicker, shorter passes to break their press and maintain possession against aggressive opponents.
Want to get the latest Barcelona news direct to your phone? Join our WhatsApp community by clicking here.
