On Friday in La Liga, Barcelona defeated Sevilla by a score of 1-0 thanks to an own goal by Real Madrid great Sergio Ramos, which sent the Catalans to the top of the standings.
seasoned center back In a close game, Ramos broke the score by deflecting Lamine Yamal’s header into his own net in the 76th minute.
The 37-year-old said this week that after returning to Spain from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, he had prepared a special goal celebration if he scored against Barca. However, sending the ball into his own net was not on the agenda.
With their neighbors Girona meeting third-place Real Madrid on Saturday, Barcelona’s victory allowed the Catalans to pass Girona at the top of the standings.
In protest of Barcelona’s role in the refereeing corruption scandal, Sevilla raised a stir by stating its directors would not attend the customary lunch or take a seat in the presidential box.
On Thursday, allegations of bribery against the Catalan club and a few of their former directors were made.
To add extra dynamism behind striker Robert Lewandowski, Xavi began winger Raphinha in attacking midfield with Lamine Yamal on the flank.
In addition, after struggling in the Mallorca tie, the coach dropped Oriol Romeu to the bench and reinstated Ilkay Gundogan in a holding midfield position beside Gavi.
After a strong run by Joao Cancelo, Joao Felix sent a shot off the crossbar as Barcelona made the early running, but Sevilla were quick on the counterattack.
Ivan Rakitic, a former midfielder for Barcelona, and Dodi Lukebakio both had shots blocked by Marc-Andre ter Stegen, while Gavi expertly used his chest to stop Lucas Ocampos.
Raphinha’s injury ended Xavi’s experiment with him, and Fermin Lopez, a La Masia graduate who had saved Barcelona at Mallorca with a late goal, took over.
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The 16-year-old youngster Yamal swiftly set the midfielder up, but after a beautiful touch to cushion the ball, the midfielder could only manage a feeble shot.
Early in the second half, after Lopez had set him up, Lewandowski could have given Barcelona the lead, but Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland made an outstanding save.
In an effort to score the opening goal, Barcelona twisted the screw and Gavi’s shot was narrowly deflected over.
In the end, it came from an unexpected place when Ramos unintentionally sent Yamal’s header back into the danger zone past Nyland.
As his own goal was being displayed on the Olympic Stadium’s huge screen, Ramos’ touches were met with ironic shouts by Barcelona supporters in honor of his gorgeous history in the Spanish capital.
When Ramos captained Real Madrid in a Clasico in 2016, Yamal, then nine years old, had lined up next to him as a Barcelona mascot.
In injury time, the defender made a superb tackle to stop Lewandowski, but the damage had already been done.
