SEVILLE: Spanish champions Barcelona suffered a shock 4-1 defeat to Sevilla in La Liga on Sunday, with veteran winger Alexis Sanchez scoring against his former club as Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty for the visitors.
The result marked Barca’s first league loss of the season, leaving them two points behind leaders Real Madrid, while Sevilla climbed to sixth.
Sanchez opened the scoring from the spot after Ronald Araujo conceded a penalty, before Isaac Romero doubled Sevilla’s lead. Marcus Rashford pulled one back just before half-time, but Lewandowski squandered a chance to equalise by firing his penalty wide.
Jose Carmona and Akor Adams sealed an emphatic win late on, condemning Hansi Flick’s side to their heaviest defeat of the campaign.
“The first 45 minutes were horrendous,” admitted Pedri Gonzalez, urging the team to be more self-critical. Flick defended his players, saying he was “pleased with their second-half reaction.”
The defeat came just days after Barcelona’s late Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain, with injuries also sidelining teenage star Lamine Yamal.
Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid were held 1-1 at Celta Vigo after Clement Lenglet’s first-half red card. Iago Aspas equalised for the hosts, who are still without a win this season.
Atletico now sit eight points behind Real Madrid and six adrift of Barca after eight matches. – AFP
