Since the changing of the guard, the search for Xavi has been at Barcelona. A lack of solid performances and convincing victories characterizes the start of the successor to Ronald Koeman.
The final duel of 2021 promised to be a final tough test before repair work can be carried out during the winter break. After all, Sevilla is the only team that can still somewhat keep up with leaders Real Madrid.
In the first half hour, this Barcelona test went well. Sevilla, where Karim Rekik had a base place, had to limit himself to preventing a goal. Julen Lopetegui’s team did the same, hitting the guests on the other side in the 32nd minute.
With a rehearsed corner, Ivan Rakitic found Papú Gómez, who gave the Barcelona defense including goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen with a low shot. On the stroke of half-time there was an answer to this blow. Ronald Araujo headed the 1-1 draw on the scoreboard as one of the final feats of the first half, with Barcelona having the most goals before halftime in a La Liga game this season.
After more than an hour, the odds seemed to turn in Barcelona’s favour. Jules Koundé let himself be lured by a ball. His reaction – he threw the ball in Jordi Alba’s face – earned him a direct red card.
Sevilla had to continue with ten men and escaped a deficit several times. For example, Ousmane Dembélé was unlucky that his shot from a distance hit the post. With Luuk de Jong rented from Sevilla for Frenkie de Jong, Xavi opted for more opportunism to convert the last test of 2021 into three points. But the extra punch was not enough to crack Sevilla’s defence. As a result, Barcelona remains ten points behind number two Sevilla.
