Barcelona’s title hopes took a major hit after a crushing 4-1 defeat against Sevilla on Sunday. The loss ended their unbeaten start to the La Liga season and dropped them to second place, two points behind Real Madrid.
The match began with early pressure from Sevilla, who took the lead in the 13th minute through a penalty confirmed by VAR. Ronald Araujo’s foul on Isaac Romero handed the hosts the perfect start, and Romero later doubled Sevilla’s lead before halftime with a clinical finish.
Barcelona tried to fight back, and Marcus Rashford pulled one back before the break with a fine volley. However, their momentum faded in the second half. Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty that could have changed the course of the game, allowing Sevilla to regain control.
Late goals from José Ángel Carmona and Akor Adams sealed a stunning win for Sevilla. The home crowd celebrated their first league victory over Barcelona since 2015.
After the match, Barcelona midfielder Pedri admitted the team’s performance was far below their usual standards. He called the first half “dreadful” and urged his teammates to show more energy and focus in upcoming matches.
The defeat follows Barcelona’s 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this week, marking a difficult spell for coach Hansi Flick. Despite that setback, the team extended their scoring record to 45 consecutive matches across all competitions.
Barcelona now enter the international break under pressure to regroup. Flick must address defensive weaknesses and lift morale before their next La Liga clash against Girona.
The loss serves as a warning that inconsistency could cost Barcelona dearly in their chase for silverware this season. They remain contenders, but improvement is urgently needed if they aim to reclaim domestic dominance.
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