Sevilla - Barcelona summary: goals, score and highlights, LaLiga Santander 2022/23
Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona: how it happened
Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona: on the whistle report
Robert Lewandowski scored his fifth goal in four LaLiga games for Barcelona and helped his team breeze past Sevilla with a 3-0 win on Saturday, with Raphinha and Eric Garcia both adding a goal each for the visitors.
The win lifts Barcelona to second place in the table on 10 points, two behind leaders Real Madrid.
For Julen Lopetegui's team, however, it was their third defeat in four games, leaving them with only one point in 17th place.
Raphinha opened the scoring when he headed in a rebound from a Lewandowski chipped shot that a defender cleared off the line in the 21st minute.
Fifteen minutes later, Jules Kounde, playing for the first time against Sevilla after leaving to sign with Barcelona this summer, sent a perfect cross into the box that Lewandowski caught on his chest before striking his volley into the bottom left corner.
Ten minutes into the second half, Kounde provided another assist, heading a corner at the right post on to Garcia, who thumped home from close range to wrap up the three points.
Peep, peep, peeeeeep! The whistle blows and this game is over. A valuable, and impressive, three points for Xavi's new team. More pain for Lopetegui and Sevilla.
Up next for both: Champions League
A late free-kick chance for Raphinha is put over the bar and it looks like that will be that.
We'll have an additional two minutes to play out.
A reminder here from Pedro Martin that (given what I've just said about this result being clear) Busquets equals the number of Barça wins with his current boss, Xavi.
476 not out!
If there was a feeling of this game petering out on the 70th minute, you can imagine how it is now.
Yes, the newly introduced players are trying to make an impression, with Gomez and Ferran both having half-chances to score for their respective teams, but this contest has been over for a while.
De Jong has certainly tried to get himself involved since coming on, a player who seemed destined to leave the club just a few weeks ago.
The squad depth for Xavi, which I mentioned in the build up, is something that could really help later in the season, especially with the World Cup split coming up.
More insights from OptaJose who tells us that Jules Koundé has assisted two goals in the same LaLiga match for the first time in his 97 appearances, becoming the first player to assist twice in his first league away game for Barcelona in the 21st century.
And it just so happened to be on his return to the club he left in the summer!
Indeed, Sevilla's defenders can breathe a sigh of relief as Lewandowski leaves the pitch.
On trots Ansu Fati. Oh dear!
Lewandowski oozes confidence when he nears the opposing goal and after taking a touch to put a through ball into the right place, he attempts to left it over the rushing Bono.
So close, but the keeper's outstretched hand deflects the ball away from goal and it's tidied up after a couple of scares. That could be Lewy's last involvement.
Time may be ticking away but Papu Gomez has just given the visitors reason to remember it's not over just yet.
A powerful run through the centre ends with an equally strong strike, which Ter Stegen wasn't going to try and catch. Blocked and cleared safely enough.
Ferran has a 'why the hell not' attempt. The Spaniard hasn't been on long and with only one covering player on the corner edge of the area he tries a speculative curler.
He only managed tennis level curve, when he really needed ping pong trajectory given the direction from where he set it off. Bono jogs across with his heart at normal rate.
Frenkie de Jong, Ferran Torres and Jordi Alba get a run out in what is now -- I've been wrong before -- a game that is already decided. Handy squad rotation opportunity for Xavi.
Pedri, Dembélé and Balde off.
Ooooh! Bono takes centre stage again to stop Lewandowski finding what he was looking for.
A strong hand, on the dive, pushes the Pole's neatly-placed effort wide.
Typical Busquets there. He is flying in with a rash challenge from behind but just before clattering his opponent gets a flailing hand in the face... and collapses as the aggrieved party, winning a free-kick for it too.
That third goal, as you may expect, has taken quite a bit of the life out of this game. Lopetegui has thrown on Dolberg for En Nesyri to see if he can liven them up but it's a tall order now.
If anything, the feeling is that they need to avoid more goals going in against them.
Garcia injured
The goalscorer is injured now and is replaced by Sergi Roberto who goes in at right-back, Kounde stepping into the central void.
GOAL!! Garcia makes it three
That corner is taken short, then swung to the back post where Kounde was waiting.
His knock back across goal is tucked home with ease by the central defender. Shocking D.
Gavi gets well forward and tries to turn his marker inside and out, getting a corner for his efforts. He's a cracking little player when on his game.
Indeed the team all in white tonight are right back at it. Pressure leads to a corner, and that almost causes Ter Stegen some issues, eventually aided by his defenders to get the ball clear. Crowd happy with this restart.
Peep! Back underway and Sevilla will want to get straight onto the front foot.
Teams have had their advice and are heading back out...
Sevilla 0-2 Barça | half-time stats
The balance of play was even for much of that first half but the visitors have that cutting edge that could cause problems to any defence.
An early reply from the hosts, and they've had chances, may swing the mood, but the counter attack threat of Dembélé especially is always there.
Peeeep! The whistle blows and the players trot away to the dressing rooms for some refreshments and manager guidance.
What a chance for Barça!!
A breakaway from their own half has Dembélé facing up against one defender, while Lewandowski is pegging it up to join him. Just as it looked as though the Frenchman was about to lay it into his strike partner's path for an almost certain goal, he turns back outside the covering man and hits it.
The ball flies past the post, as Lewy's arms fly into the air. Initially great play from Dembéle´, but he's chosen wrong at the end.
Just a single minute added on. I thought it would have been more.
We've had a bit of a stoppage in play as Araujo gets treatment but he looks like he's ok to carry on. Barça definitely starting to enjoy this.
Lewy scores for fun
As OptaJose points out, Robert Lewandowski has now scored 5 goals in 4 games in LaLiga, becoming only the third player to score 5 or more goals in his first 4 games in the competition in the 21st century.
Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 (5) and Radamel Falcao in 2011 (5). Decent company!
It's fair to say that one goal didn't change the mood around the Sánchez Pizjuán, but the second has.
With this strike force, Xavi has the opposition on constant alert. That said, there have been enough signs, as there have been in Barça's other games this season, that they can be opened up at the back.
GOAL!!! Who else but Lewandowski
If you're a defender against this Barça team then the man you don't ever leave alone in your penalty area is Robert Lewandowski. OK, maybe that's easier said than done!
Kounde sends in a lovely cross on the run from the right and the Pole, in space, controls it perfectly on the chest before volleying down and home past Bono. Simple and class!
Ouchie! Lewandoski is clattered by Jordan (who gets booked) and that gives Barça the dead-ball chance around 25 yards out.
I fancy Dembélé may be eyeing this up. Indeed he is... but floats one towards the back post and it's well defended.
Things have settled again for Lopetegui's men and they almost fashion an opening on the edge of the Barça area, just getting the ball tangled in the multiple legs at the last moment.
From that, Dembélé is set away and does manage to pull the trigger from the left, but the angle was always against him.
Since the goal, the hosts have struggled to get back into the flow that had them looking so dangerous. Barça, conversely, have an extra skip in their step.
GOAL!!! Raphinha puts visitors ahead
It may have come slightly against the run of play but it was deadly, with the front three all involved. First Dembélé, sprinting through the middle again, laying off to Lewandowski to his left.
The Polish striker, having just held his run onside, dinks the ball over Bono as he rushed out, and although that effort is desperately cleared off the line, Raphinha is on hand to head in from a yard.
En Nesyri now released, and he looks to place it low rather than follow his teammates' ''just smash it' lead. It's very well placed as well, targeting just inside the near post.
Ter Stegen throws himself across and gets a strong hand to it to push it to the side. Flag up late.
Lopetegui seems to have his side primed to take advantage of the Barça back line. Acuna latches on to one through ball and wastes his very decent chance, then Isco does the same, before blasting high over when only the German keeper to beat.
Sevilla should be ahead!
End to end stuff and the home fans are briefly celebrating as Lamela slots the ball neatly into the corner of Ter Stegen's net. The flag from the assistant is up though... and he certainly was off.
Dembélé has another run through the middle and almost reaches the penalty area, but a third opponent was too much. He then fouls his marker and has him name taken down.
Dembélé gets his first chance to get involved but his effort, which we'll call a sighter, is easily dealt with by Bono.
Nice flow already to this game, and no surprise that the crowd is up for it.
Sevilla come close! It's a really crowded space on the edge of the Barça area, with Isco being closely tracked, but the former Madrid magician dinks a beautiful pass through them all into the path of Rakitic.
The ex-Culé reaches it and directs the ball goalwards only for Ter Stegen to stick out an arm and block. Defenders follow up and clear.
Both teams feeling each other out in these opening minutes. The man making his return, Jules Kounde, does a bit too much feeling and hands away a free-kick to the hosts. Nothing comes of it.
Peeep! Barça kick-off
OK, the players have gone through their usual preparations and Antonio Mateu Lahoz is ready to get us underway...
Decent venue the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán
Here's a look at where we are tonight. And it's almost time for the famous anthem to ring out...
Belted out with passion from the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, the 'centenary anthem', written by local musician El Arrebato in 2005, is a song that is firmly embedded in the club's recent history and likely long future.
Sevillian d-Isco dancing?
This man has had his fair share of Barça clashes, although mainly in the white of Madrid.
No doubt he'll be relishing tonight's chance to shine.
Battle: Dembélé vs Telles
It looked at one stage as though Ousmane Dembélé would be departing Xavi's new project... and with many of the fanbase happy to see the back of him. But how things change!
The Frenchman has dazzled at times this season and looks like the perfect wing-man to aid the goal tally of the new Pole. Tonight let's see how on-loan defender Alex Telles deals with him.
Sevilla home record positivity
Sevilla’s latest loss, 2-1 at Almeria, has them winless after three LaLiga games for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, when they finished seventh.
Lopetegui, who's never tasted a league victory against Barça (3 draws, 4 losses), can point to a very impressive home record, with 14 wins and just one loss across the last 22 league games.
It has likely not escaped you that Barça's spending this summer went against many people's understanding of their finances. They have been using various 'levers' but UEFA, who have been handing out sanctions this week, have confirmed that they have their eye on the goings on at the Catalan club.
Barça fans always have one eye, often two, on what eternal rivals Real Madrid are up to, especially as they are hoping to compete more this year against them.
Earlier today, Los Blancos won 2-1 against the other side from Sevilla, Betis, thanks to goals from Vinicius and Rodrygo.
Kounde knows his way around
Ahead of the challenge against the Sevilla front line tonight, new-boy at Barça Jules Kounde had to remember which changing room to head into.
How it stands: Barça
Beating Valladolid 4-0 with Lewandowski doing his thing has the fans excited about what lies ahead this season.
Xavi can also be delighted with a successful transfer window, adding Marcos Alonso and Hector Bellerin late on, two great fullbacks for each of their wings. And there was no offloading of Jordi Alba or Memphis Depay, which may cause problems with the bean counters but provides depth and experience.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 3 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
How it stands: Sevilla
Sevilla are struggling somewhat and question marks have already been put around the shoogle-pegness of Julen Lopetegui's position. Crazy at this early stage, especially given that the Andalusian team has lost its two-star centre backs, Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde, this latter lining up against them tonight. Lucas Ocampo was also sent out to Ajax on loan.
Clearly a win here and the whole narrative changes.
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 14 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 17 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Starting XI: Barcelona
Ter Stegen, Kounde, Araujo, Garcia, Balde, Gavi, Busquets, Pedri, Dembélé, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Starting XI: Sevilla
Bono, Montiel, Gudelj, Nianzou, Acuña, Fernando, Jordán, Rakitic, Lamela, Isco, En-Nesyri
Team news is out! Let's have a look at the hosts first...
Barça come into this game in high spirits after winning their last match 4-0 against Real Valladolid with an outstanding performance by the aforementioned Lewandowski.
The Polish player has been a godsend to the Cules, and no one is happier than team coach Xavi.
If you want some live images to go with my text chat, here's a little guide to help.
Barça arrive
One of the signings of the season across European football was Barça's acquisition of Robert Lewandowski.
The polish goal-getter unsurprisingly hasn't taken long to settle, and will be looking to build on his impressive start tonight.
Sevilla prepares
The Ramón Sánchez Pizjuaán is a famous stadium known by fans throughout the world for the incredible atmosphere it can create.
Expect a cracking mood for the illustrious Catalan guests.
Sevilla - Barcelona live: welcome
Hello and a very warm welcome to Spain's sunny Sevilla, where we expect to be in for a treat as Barcelona roll into town for the LaLiga Santander clash this Saturday evening.
Stay with me for the next couple of hours and we'll see just how Xavi's fresh faces get on as optimism continues to grow around Barça, while Julen Lopetegui is under pressure to get things going despite his team being weakened through the summer.