Sevilla force Barca into fightback

Barcelona had to fight from two goals down against 10 men Sevilla and wait for a stoppage-time winner from David Villa to make it six League wins from six.

Hosts Sevilla had the luxury of picking the same starting line-up to have played the last two games, including that which played the Week 4 win over Real Madrid. Barca, meanwhile, brought in Pedro Rodriguez, Xavi Hernandez and Jordi Alba for David Villa, Thiago Alcantara and the injured Adriano.

The visitors, who were chasing a sixth successive opening League win of the season, began the match patiently and more than once early on played themselves into Sevilla’s penalty area for brief glances at goal.

However, that was interrupted soon after by Sevilla’s pressing, which for its physical approach, did draw several complaints from La Blaugrana towards the match official.

Somewhat against the run of play, Sevilla took the lead, when an unmarked Piotr Trochowski picked up the loose ball from a deflected shot and his low effort breezed past Dani Alves and underneath Victor Valdes.

Barca pushed back for an equaliser, but struggled to then find a way through, whilst Sevilla more than once threatened on the counter-attack.

Barca came out looking for the equaliser, but it was Sevilla that got the second goal of the game, as Gary Medel stole possession in the centre circle and set free Alvaro Negredo to run through and dink the ball over Valdes.

The visitors immediately hit back, first through Pedro’s volley that required a goalline clearance and then through Cesc Fabregas’ low strike that made it 2-1 eight minutes into the second period.

With 20 minutes to go and Sevilla still otherwise frustrating Barca, Medel’s off-the-ball clash with Fabregas, where the two players’ heads came together in a confrontation, saw the Chilean sent off.

However, even as the hosts remained tight and narrow in defence and midfield, Barca equalised as Fabregas was found free in the box with a tight pass from Messi to toe poke the ball over Palop in goal.

Substitute David Villa then broke Sevilla hearts, playing a one-two with Messi before firing in a stoppage time winner to prompt wild celebrations from the subs’ bench.

Sevilla 2-3 Barcelona

Scorers: Trochowski 26 (S), Negredo 48 (S), Fabregas 53, 89 (B), Villa 93 (B)

Sevilla: Palop; Cicinho, Botia, Spahic, Navarro; Medel, Maduro; Navas, Rakitic (Kondogbia 75), Trochowski (Manu 38); Negredo (Luna 80)

Barcelona: Valdes, Alves (Villa 79), Song, Mascherano, Alba, Busquets (Thiago 75), Xavi, Cesc, Pedro, Alexis (Tello 70), Messi

Ref: Mateu Lahoz

Medel sent off 72 (Sevilla)

Tags Fabregas Medel Villa
La Liga - Club News