1-0: SEVILLA FC ARE DEFEATED AT THE CAMP NOU THROUGH PEDRI'S SOLITARY GOAL

Sevilla FC suffer defeat to FC Barcelona, who, although level on points , take second spot from Sevilla FC. One goal, from Pedri, settled the tie and gave Xavi's team all three points at the Camp Nou in a game where Barça were the better team and Bono was kept busy. However, Sevilla did still have chances of their own to steal the tie. Augustinsson could have levelled the tie in the closing stages, but Ter Stegen stopped that from happening. As it stands, FC Barcelona (with a game in hand), Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla FC sit level on 57 points in the Champions League spots, four points in front of fifth place, Real Betis. 

Sevilla FC showed a lot of personality in the first half where FC Barcelona were looking to infiltrate Sevilla's backline by playing through the lines and using the wings to their advantage. However, those attacks were well dealt with by the blanquirroja centre backs and, also, by a yet again inspired Bono. Full recovered from the knock he picked up with Morocco, Bono was on hand to stop Dembele with a great save diving low to his right. A little later Ferran Torres looked poised to open the scoring, but he failed to latch on to Dembele's pass after a cross from Pedri. 

De Jong's shot wide and Dembele's chance, stopped by Bono, were the clearest chances in the first half

It wasn't just FC Barcelona doing the attacking, Lopetegui's boys were also looking dangerous. Although not troubling Ter Stegen too much, Sevilla were conjuring up chances on the counter attack through the wings occupied by Lamela and Ocampos, but linking up with Martial was proving difficult and Sevilla's game in the final third was lacking. De Jong had the clearest chance for Xavi's side with a header in the six yard box that went over Bono's goal at the 11th minute mark. Ferran also was on the hunt for a goal, but without troubling Sevilla's Moroccan goalkeeper. Sevilla did have a shout for a penalty when the ball hit Araujo's hand when Martial sent in a cross at the halfway mark of the tie. 

Sevilla started the second half well with Rekik stealing the ball from Dani Alves and mounting a counter with Ocampos, but Lamela's shot was easily saved by Ter Stegen. Few minutes later, Sevilla were on the counter again, this time Martial headed the attack, but again it ended without any reward as Navas' cross went a whisker away from connecting with Ocampos at the back post. Barca started to strut their stuff at the 60th minute mark in which Bono once again had to intervene, this time with a double save denying Ferran and then Araujo. Rakitic's free kick went close going inches over the crossbar. 

Sevilla didn't take advantage of their counter attacks and Pedri made them pay for it 

The match started to get away from Sevilla. Piqué was the next to go close when his effort hit the crossbar from a corner. But Sevilla, well-organised at the back, continued to look a threat on the counter. In the 70th minute it was Martial who drove forward, got to the edge of the area and curled his left-footed shot, but Ter Stegen, well placed, made an easy save. Despite the Sevilla onslaught, it would be Pedri's individual brilliance that settled the tie. Going past Gudelj, then Diego Carlos, he would then end by firing the ball past Bono into the bottom corner. 

Sevilla couldn't find a way back, and just a few minutes later, Bono again saved Ferran's goal for the umpteenth time from Dembele's cross. Unfortunately, Karim Rekik, who recently returned from a long time out injured, had to leave the field with a niggle. They tried to get into the home half, but their energy level were running very low. Lopetegui brought everything he had left on the bench: Tecatito, En-Nesyri and Rafa Mir, and Agustinsson had a chance before Sánchez Martínez's final whistle, picking up a rebound from a poor Ter Stegen catch that the German himself made amends from the Swede's shot. Next Friday, Sevilla FC will host Granada CF in the thirty-first match day of the LALiga season. 

MATCH SUMMARY

1. FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Alves, Araujo, Piqué, Jordi Alba, Busquets, De Jong (Gavi, minute 74), Pedri, Dembele (Nico, minute 90), Ferran Torres and Aubameyang (Memphis, minute 80).

0. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas (Montiel, minute 83), Koundé, Diego Carlos, Rekik (Augustinsson, minute 82), Gudelj, Jordán, Rakitic, Lamela (Tecatito, minute 67), Ocampos and Martial (Rafa Mir, minute 82).

GOALS: 1-0 Pedri, minute 72.

REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez. Busquets, Dembele, Tecatito, Montiel, Piqué and Ocampos all picked up yellows.