MD3 Sharing the spoils with Sevilla

So we have finally dropped points. After a run of 6 games including friendlies Barcelona finally dropped 2 points drawing 1-1 with the Europa league champions Sevilla. There was some serious hype surrounding this game as both the teams were on the back of high flying starts to the campaign and it was anticipated to be an extremely open end to end game with the 3 points up for either side's taking. Sevilla when playing at the camp Nou have had a bad history but without fans due to the pandemic Barcelona's home isn't the fortress it once was and if there was a good time for Sevilla to take something from the game it was now.

The game started out with Rakitc, a former barca player sold to Sevilla just a few weeks ago getting a honor ceremony for his contributions for Barcelona. It was an emotional for him, returning to the club he spent the last 5 years at winning an incredible 16 trophies during that given period. Having caught up with his former team mates it was now time for the real action to begin. 

The game started out very brightly with Sevilla almost going 1-0 up in the first minute. They continued to press and go forward with momentum and finally a brilliant cross into the box was met with by Luke de Jong and Sevilla took the lead on the 8th min. This was a bad goal for Barcelona to concede but in their defense Lenglet was suspended having picked up a red card in the last match and young Arajuo couldn't possibly fill his shoes. Most teams would have been taken aback conceding a goal but not Barcelona. Just 71 seconds later a brilliant move orchestrated by Messi playing a lovely long ball to alba who squared it back for a simple tap in from Coutinho levelled the score and you could feel the game was truly on!

Fast forward to the end of the match and boy was it uneventful after the opening 15. You can say after the initial 15 min of end to end play both teams decided to play conservative football and in the end it showed by the lack of chances created. More than half the chances for both teams were created in the opening 15 min. This was most likely a result of the overwhelming fixture schedule both the teams had having to play 3 games in 8 days when usually its just 1 game a week. The players were visibly tired and looked contempt with the result the way it was. 

In the end I believe it was an even match with both teams deserving a point each. Up next is the dreaded international break. No club football for 2 whole weeks!