Sevilla were held to a 1-1 draw by Barcelona on Tuesday, and Jules Kounde was sent off as they wasted an opportunity to put pressure on LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.
Los Nervionenses, who beat Atletico Madrid in a last-gasp victory on Saturday, took the lead shortly after the half-hour mark thanks to a well-executed set-piece routine by Alejandro Gomez.
Barca did take a point back to Catalonia thanks to Ronald Araujo’s 45th-minute header, with Kounde receiving a red card in the 64th minute for throwing the ball at Jordi Alba’s face after the two collided.
Sevilla failed to narrow the gap on Carlo Ancelotti’s leaders to three points, while Barca missed out on a chance to finish fourth.
Barca dominated the first half, with Ousmane Dembele in particular looking lively, but they were unable to put Yassine Bounou to the test.
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The hosts soon found their footing, though, and Rafa Mir saw an effort ruled out for offside midway through the first half.
Lopetegui’s side went ahead in the 32nd minute when Gomez superbly swept Ivan Rakitic’s low corner into Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s bottom-right corner from 12 yards.
Barca drew level from a corner of their own on the stroke of half-time, Araujo heading into the bottom-left corner from Dembele’s inviting delivery.
Sevilla’s hopes of going on to win the game suffered a blow when Kounde reacted foolishly to Alba, leaving referee Carlos del Cerro Grande with little option but to send him off.
Gavi missed a glaring chance and Dembele struck the post from distance as Barca ultimately failed to make their advantage count in the closing stages.
What does it mean? Barca fail to take advantage
Barca will be disappointed not to have claimed all three points, given their dominance in the opening 45 minutes and their numerical superiority for the final half hour.
Indeed, Xavi’s men registered 15 shots before the interval – the most of any team in a LaLiga game this season.
Sevilla cannot complain with a point after Kounde’s moment of madness, but they have now won just one of their past 29 LaLiga games against Barca.
Dembele makes a statement
The France international’s future has been the subject of intense speculation and he showed here why Barca are keen to keep hold of him.
He had a game-high five shots – one of which struck the upright late on – while no player on the pitch bettered his four key passes.
Kounde sees red
Kounde was having a decent game before his tussle with Alba, with no Sevilla player gaining possession more times than his seven come full-time, but his display will be remembered for one of the more farcical dismissals LaLiga will see this season.
Key Opta facts
– Ousmane Dembele has two assists in his past two games for Barcelona, both coming from corners – as many as he had in his previous 34 appearances for the Blaugrana in all competitions.
– Jules Kounde has been sent off for the first time in his Sevilla career in all competitions (111 appearances).
– Barcelona’s Gavi won seven fouls against Sevilla, equalling the most of any player in a single LaLiga game this season (Real Sociedad’s Adnan Januzaj against Real Mallorca in October).
– Barcelona have won only one of their last eight away LaLiga games (D5 L2), 3-1 vs Villarreal on MD15, but they are unbeaten away from home in the competition under Xavi (W1 D2).
– Ronald Araujo scored his fourth goal for Barcelona, all four in LaLiga, three of them headers and two from corners.
What’s next?
Barca face a trip to Mallorca after the mid-season break on January 2, while Sevilla visit Cadiz a day later.
