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Ivan Rakitic scored in opposition to his outdated staff as Sevilla beat Barcelona 2-0 on Wednesday to place one foot within the Copa del Rey remaining.
Rakitic struck Sevilla’s second on the Sanchez Pizjuan within the Eighty fifth-minute to present his facet a good-looking benefit going into the second leg of this semi-final tie at Camp Nou in March. Centre-back Jules Kounde had earlier opened the scoring within the first half, brilliantly driving ahead from defence earlier than firing previous Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Barca had their possibilities on the evening however could not beat goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who made three gorgeous saves to maintain out Lionel Messi.
Positives
Barcelona may have dwelling benefit within the second leg and have overturned greater deficits prior to now. By the point the second leg is performed, they may even hope to have a more healthy squad, as they have been lacking eight gamers by way of damage for this one.
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Negatives
The objectives given away have been as soon as once more low cost. Kounde was allowed to bounce by way of the midfield for Sevilla’s first too comfortably earlier than blitzing previous Samuel Umtiti with ease. Umtiti was once more at fault for the second objective, because the French defender was caught out attempting to play a excessive line, slipping within the course of and handing Rakitic a free run on objective. The opposite disappointing factor in regards to the second objective was how open Barca left themselves — an away objective would have been good however they did not have to go all out for it. It was poor tie administration.
Seeing among the defending — Sergi Esudero may even have scored for Sevilla — Paris Saint-Germain can be licking their lips forward of Tuesday’s Champions League recreation at Camp Nou.
Supervisor score out of 10
5 — Ronald Koeman’s arms have been tied attributable to accidents and he was compelled to play a left-back at right-back and a B staff centre-back alongside the injury-prone Umtiti. Nevertheless, he reacted late along with his substitutes to vary the sport and left his facet too open contemplating there was a second leg to come back.
Participant scores (1-10; 10 = finest. Gamers launched after 70 minutes get no score)
GK Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 6 — Not at fault for both objective and made save from Escudero simply earlier than the break.
DF Junior Firpo, 5 — Requested to play on his weaker facet so naturally was unable to have any actual influence on the sport. Rakitic’s objective got here from his facet.
DF Oscar Mingueza, 6 — Higher at centre-back than right-back. Was assured carrying the ball ahead and feeding passes between the traces.
DF Samuel Umtiti, 4 — Ought to have stood up higher to Kounde for the primary objective and performed Rakitic onside for the second.
DF Jordi Alba, 6 — Made an excellent restoration to cease Suso on the break within the first half. Linked effectively with Messi and Pedri and appeared to have received a second-half penalty, just for the referee to present a free kick exterior the field.
MF Sergio Busquets, 6 — Labored arduous and organised Barca’s press however wasn’t at his finest on the ball.
MF Frenkie de Jong, 6 — Unable to achieve full steam attributable to Sevilla’s intelligent (and infrequently soiled) recreation plan in midfield.
MF Pedri, 6 — Like De Jong, wasn’t afforded the house he excels in, though he was energetic all through the sport and labored effectively with Messi.
FW Ousmane Dembele, 7 — Barca’s largest risk at occasions attributable to his means to beat a person. A few depraved corners practically caught Bounou unexpectedly, and he additionally delivered some harmful crosses. Sadly, nobody acquired on the top of them.
FW Antoine Griezmann, 5 — Wasn’t at his finest. Did not make the runs his teammates anticipated and, exterior of early move to Messi, did not contribute sufficient within the remaining third.
FW Lionel Messi, 7 — Got here near scoring thrice however was denied by the good Bounou, together with one unimaginable save from a late free kick.
Substitutes
MF Riqui Puig, N/R — Got here on for the ultimate 5 minutes.
FW Francisco Trincao, N/R — Changed Umtiti in stoppage time.
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