Barcelona 3-0 Sevilla: Second half Jori Alba, Gavi and Raphinha goals see Barca move eight points clear in La Liga

Barcelona scored three second-half goals to overcome Sevilla and go eight points clear at the top of La Liga

The hosts had Sevilla penned in throughout the first half, with the Catalan club creating a series of good chances all without opening the scoring. The pattern in the first half was reminiscent of most recent Barcelona matches, dominating the possession but struggling to really create clear-cut opportunities.

Ronald Araujo had a huge chance after 17 minutes, rising highest for a free header but the Uruguayan could only divert his effort wide of the target.

Robert Lewandowski struck a superb effort from distance which was headed for the bottom corner but goalkeeper Bono was at full stretch to magnificently tip it around the post and out for a corner.

Xavi’s side came out for the second half looking to up the intensity from the off. They tried to move the ball quicker in an attempt to catch Sevilla out but the away side continued to stand firm in their deep, defensive structure.

10 minutes into the second half Barcelona had another big chance, Gavi whipped in a perfect ball from the left to the back post but Raphinha could only head his effort straight at Bono. It seemed as though the Brazilian was caught in two minds as to whether he should head the ball back across the face of goal to another player or whether to power his header across the goalkeeper – ultimately he did neither.

Just a few minutes later, Barcelona finally found the breakthrough. Franck Kessie played a brilliant pass into Jordi Alba who struck his first-time effort past Bono and into the bottom corner. Kessie’s delightful ball into Alba was the moment of magic that Barcelona needed to break down the stubborn Sevilla defence.

Xavi’s side doubled their lead after 70 minutes, Raphinha was able to shift the ball onto his left foot before playing a terrific ball into Gavi at the back post for a tap-in.

The Catalan side then wrapped up all three points 10 minutes from time, this time Jordi Alba turned provider – firing a ball across the face of goal for Raphinha to rifle home.

Barcelona managed possession brilliantly in the closing moments to see out brilliant result in a thoroughly professional manner. They go eight points clear at the top of La Liga and for Sevilla, its a ninth defeat of the season and they remain two points above the relegation zone.

TALKING POINT – BEGINNING TO PULL AWAY

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – RAPHINHA (FC BARCELONA)

Xavi deserves a lot of credit for keeping Raphinha on the pitch because in truth, the Brazilian winger didn’t actually have the best of matches in the first half. Xavi persisted however and in the second period he exploded into life. He provided a superb assist for Gavi to score Barcelona’s second goal and effectively kill off the game and just nine minutes later he was able to get on the scoresheet himself, timing his run brilliantly to get on the end of Jordi Alba’s cross and make it 3-0. Defensively, as he always does when required, Raphinha put in a shift – getting back when needed to help out Jules Kounde.

PLAYER RATINGS

FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen 7, Kounde 7, Araujo 7, Christensen 7, Alba 9, Pedri 8, Busquets N/A, de Jong 7, Raphinha 9, Lewandowski 7, Gavi 8 SUBS: Balde 6, Alonso 6, Kessie 8, Torres 6, Fati 6

SEVILLA FC: Bono 6, Acuna 6, Rekik 6, Gudelj 6, Bade 6, Montiel 6, Jordan 6, Gueye 6, Torres 6, Rakitic 6, En-Nesyri 6 SUBS: Lamela 6, Ocampos 6, Fernando 6, Gil 6

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

17′ FREE HEADER! – Ronald Araujo gets a free header in the box but sends it just wide.

25′ A MAGNIFICENT SAVE! – Lewandowski strikes a brilliant effort from distance but Bono is at full stretch to tip it around the post. A spectacular save.

58′ GOAL – FC BARCELONA – Kessie plays the ball into Jordi Alba who strikes it first time past Bono and into the bottom corner!

71′ GOAL – FC BARCELONA – Raphinha is allowed to shift the ball onto his left foot before playing a perfect pass across the face of goal to Gavi at the back post who is on hand to tap it home. A brilliant pass from Raphinha!

79′ GOAL – FC BARCELONA – Barca have their third! Jordi Alba fires the ball across the face of goal and Raphinha is on hand to bury it!

KEY STAT

Sevilla have now not won on any of their last 20 visits to Barcelona in La Liga (D3 L17), with their last triumph there coming in December 2002 under Joaquín Caparrós (3-0), a game played as a player by current Blaugrana boss Xavi Hernández.