Sevilla vs Barcelona Dembele liberated by formation change
Messi lifts Barcelona closer to Atletico
Barcelona player ratings against Sevilla: Ilaix is here to stay
Ronald Koeman’s decision to switch to a back try freed up the firepower that could drive Barcelona in a title race in LaLiga Santander.
Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi was too dangerous for Sevilla as they each scored a goal to send the Blaugrana within two points of the leaders Atletico Madrid.
Dembele was brilliant in the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, which gave Jules Kounde a troublesome afternoon. The forward was free to drive forward due to the change in Barcelona’s formation, with one of his attacking runs ending with the opening goal.
Barcelona had many chances to complete the match before Messi later scored their second goal. On a number of missed occasions, Sergino Dest hit the post and Messi himself sent Dembele’s discount high over the crossbar.
Gerard Pique was only able to score 67 minutes when he began to feel the tension of an injury problem. His replacement, Ronald Araujo, who made his own return from injury, was then forced off himself in the 77th minute. There was also Pedri, who was injured in the 70th minute.
There were nervous faces in the Barcelona camp when Marc-Andre ter Stegen injured his hand during the warm-up. After being forced for treatment, the German goalkeeper was finally able to start the match without playing.
Papu Gomez summed up Sevilla’s first half in Nervion as he struggled to make any impact on the game. There was no surprise in replacing him at half-time.