Barcelona 1-0 Sevilla – Lamine Yamal shines as Xavi’s side beat Sevilla after Sergio Ramos own goal in La Liga clash

A Sergio Ramos own goal gifted Barcelona three points in a 1-0 win over Sevilla as Xavi’s team returned to the top of the table.

After a midweek draw to Mallorca, Barcelona got back to winning ways, helped by 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, seven years after he walked out at Camp Nou as Ramos’ mascot before El Clasico in 2016.

Sevilla made themselves hard to break down, but with a little over 10 minutes to play, Yamal’s headed cross was turned in by the back-tracking Ramos, who could do little to stop the ball from trickling over the line.

The result ended Sevilla’s unbeaten run of four, while Barcelona remain one of only two Spanish teams, alongside Girona, who are unbeaten this season.

Joao Felix came closest to opening the score during an eventful first half when he smacked the crossbar following a moment of brilliance from Joao Cancelo.

The former Manchester City defender cut inside from the right and moved into the box, skipping past three Sevilla players before he was able to offload the ball to Felix who failed to score with the goal gaping.

Barcelona winger Raphinha was forced off after pulling up with a muscle problem and his replacement, Fermin Lopez, had a golden opportunity to score within a minute of coming on.

Lopez sparked a flowing move and found Lamine Yamal on the right, who returned the favour to Lopez who had made a clever run into the box, and with the whole goal to aim at, struck straight at the goalkeeper from close range.

Barcelona were more direct in the second half as they tried to break down a stubborn Sevilla defence.

Robert Lewandowski had the chance to put the hosts ahead but his close-range effort was saved by the legs of Orjan Nyland.

That was the closest they had come until Ramos, of all players, turned the ball into his own net to give Barcelona the lead with ten minutes on the clock.

Yamal did excellently at the back post from Ferran Torres’ cross when he attempted to head the ball back across goal for the waiting Lopez, and his hard work paid off as the ball dropped to Ramos’ feet, who couldn’t help but steer the ball over the line.

The goal came at the right time for Barcelona, who were rarely under any pressure in the game, as they comfortably held on for the three points.

It was only in 2016 when a then-nine-year-old Barcelona mascot Lamine Yamal held the hand of Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos as the teams walked out of the Camp Nou tunnel.

Little did Ramos know, seven years later the same boy – now 16 – would cause him to turn the ball into his own net to gift Barcelona the lead over his beloved Sevilla.

Yamal was a shining star on the right wing throughout the game and his persistence eventually paid off at the expense of the legendary Spanish defender.

Every defender enjoys keeping a clean sheet, which Joao Cancelo managed against Sevilla on Friday, but the modern full-back did so much more than defend.

He produced the best moment of the game when he skipped past three Sevilla players – including Ramos – and put the ball on a plate for Joao Felix. If it wasn’t for the crossbar, Cancelo would have already had the assist of the season sewn up.

Cancelo was dominant down the right-hand flank and created the most chances (4), completed the most dribbles (4), made the most tackles (4) and won the most duals (9) of anyone on the pitch. A stellar performance.

BARCELONA: Ter Stegen 7, Cancelo 8, Kounde 7, Christensen 7, Balde 7, Raphinha 6, Gavi 7, Gundogan 7, Yamal 7, Lewandowski 6, Felix 8

Subs: Romeu N/A, Lopez 7, Torres 6

SEVILLA: Nyland 7, Sanchez 6, Bade 7, Ramos 6, Pedrosa 6, Jordan 6, Sow 7, Lamela 7, Rakitic 6, Ocampos 6, Lukebakio 6

Subs: Suso N/A, Mariano 6, Navas N/A, Acuna 6, Fernando 6

22’ – FELIX RATTLES THE BAR! Cancelo cuts inside from the right, moves into the box and skips past three Sevilla players before slipping the ball to Felix who has the whole goal to aim at from the edge of the six-yard box, beats Nyland but can’s beat the woodwork!

29’ – GAVI OFF THE LINE! An unmarked Ocampos takes a shot from just outside the six-yard box that looks destined for the back of the net, but Gavi is there to dig Ter Stegen out and stop the ball with his chest.

40’ – HOW HAS LOPEZ NOT SCORED?! The substitute sparks an attack with a driving run before finding Yamal out wide on the right. Yamal returns the pass to Lopez who makes a run into the box, swivels, and with the whole goal to aim at, hits the ball straight at the goalkeeper.

58’ – CHANCES FOR BARCA! Lewandowski sees his close-range shot saved by the legs of Nyland as the ball pops over the crossbar and out for a corner.

76’ – GOAL!! BARCELONA 1-0 SEVILLA (RAMOS OWN GOAL) – Yamal does excellently at the back post as he looks to head the ball back across goal to Lopez from Torres’ cross, and his hard work pays off as the ball drops to Ramos’ feet, who can’t help but steer the ball into the net.

• Barcelona haven’t lost any of their last 16 matches against Sevilla in La Liga (W12 D4) since a 1-2 defeat in October 2015, keeping a clean sheet in the last four. The last time the Azulgrana side went four straight games without conceding against Sevilla in the competition was in January 1987.