Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the league table to eight points thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Sevilla at Camp Nou.
Second half goals from Jordi Alba, Gavi and Raphinha secured the win for Barca, who capitalised on Real Madrid’s defeat to Mallorca to take a stranglehold on the La Liga title race.
As expected, Barcelona dominated the opening exchanges but it would take them until the 17th minute to carve Sevilla open for the first time. That chance would fall to Ronald Aruajo, who rose highest from a corner kick but headed his resulting effort on goal just wide of the post.
Robert Lewandowski would come close for Barca next, forcing Yassine Bounou into a world class save with a venomous strike from outside of the penalty area.
That was that for the first half chances though. Barca had a lot of the ball in dangerous but didn’t/couldn’t really do anything with it due to Sevilla being well set up defensively.
The home side continued to press forward in search of an opener at the start of the second half, and it finally came in thw 58th minute. After some wonderful hold up play from Franck Kessie inside the box, the former Milan man tapped the ball beautifully into the path of the onrushing Jordi Alba who was able to subsequently side-foot the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Barca made then made it 2-0 in the 70th minute thanks to Gavi. The youngster tapped in from close range after some fantastic play from Raphinha who burst down the right flank, before drilling the ball into Gavi’s path at the back post.
Soon after, it was 3-0. This time Raphinha would get the goal, side-footing home having been found by a low cross from Alba from the left flank.
GK – Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 5/10 – He really didn’t have anything to do.
RB – Jules Kounde – 6/10 – Enjoyed a physical battle on the flank.
CB – Ronald Araujo – 6/10 – Nearly scored in the first half, and didn’t have a lot to do defensively.
CB – Andreas Christensen – 5/10 – A quiet evening for the ex-Chelsea man.
LB – Jordi Alba – 8/10 – Broke the deadlock after a typically lung-bursting run into the opposition penalty area and then bagged an assist.
CM – Pedri – 7/10 – Another very good display from the youngster.
CM – Sergio Busquets – N/A – Subbed off with an injury inside the opening five minutes.
CM – Frenkie de Jong – 7/10 – Moved into a slightly deeper role after Busquets went off injured, and dictated play from that position.
RW – Raphinha – 9/10 – Quiet in the first half half, but was able to cause much more of a stir when he started to move infield a bit more in the second. Bagged an assist for the second goal after some stunning play, and then bagged a goal of his own.
ST – Robert Lewandowski – 6/10 – Surprisingly didn’t score but his hold-up play was good throughout.
LW – Gavi – 7/10 – Worked extremely hard and got a goal for his efforts.
SUB – Franck Kessie – 7/10 – His brilliant hold-up play led to the opener.
SUB – Ansu Fati – N/A.
SUB – Marcos Alonso – N/A.
SUB – Alejandro Balde – N/A.
SUB – Ferran Torries – N/A.
Credit: 90min.com
