1-1: A STRATEGIC AND HARD-FOUGHT POINT WITH TEN MEN

A point to be valued tonight at home against FC Barcelona. In a match in which both sides showed each other respect, Papu Gómez opened the scoring with a training ground move from a corner, before Araujo did the same to send the sides in all square at the break. The sides started the second half looking to move ahead and Koundé's red card complicated things for Sevilla. Down to ten men, the only thing the team could do was protect the point. Juanlu and Valentino managed to make their first team debuts as they helped the cause.

Once more this season, rain paid a visit to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán but the crowd was not going to miss the spectacle on show tonight. The match took a while to get going as both sides were feeling each other out. A header from Jutglà was the first chance for Barcelona, just before the 10th minute. The game was injected with some excitement about halfway through the first half when Rafa Mir expertly slotted past Ter Stegen in goal, but it was ruled out for offside.

Two corners straight from the training ground provided the goals tonight

Mir had another chance around the 30-minute mark after a surging run from Delaney. The side hadn't had too many attacking forays but the goal would come through another one of our weapons. Rakitić took a corner that was drilled into the open Papu Gómez, who had make a clever run to free himself. He met the ball perfectly and side footed in a great goal to open the scoring. There were 15 minutes until the break and Sevilla seemed to have things under control. Unfortunately, a corner would end up cancelling out our advantage as Araujo rose highest to head in the equaliser. 

The second half started off full of action with Sevilla on top and looking to get towards Ter Stegen's goal. Delaney met a corner with a strong header but his effort went over the bar. Abde would have the next chance for Barça in what preceded the key moment of the match. After a confrontation between Koundé and Alba, the French defender threw the ball at the Barcelona player which Del Cerro Grande punished with a red card. The game would only get more difficult from that point. Lopetegui decided to bring on Gudelj and the now-recovered En-Nesyri for his first game in months.

Koundé's red card made the end of the game a lot more difficult than expected for Sevilla

The team had no other choice but to drop back to conserve the point. Xavi brought on Nico and Luuk de Jong for extra firepower, while Julen brought on two academy lads to help the team through to the end. Juanlu and Valentino came on to make their league debuts and gave it their all. Barça were creating the danger in the match and they almost found a winner through the omnipresent Dembélé who fired a left-footed shot against the post. Earlier, Gavi had a good chance to head beyond Bono. The match eventually came to its end however, with Barça wanting more than a point and Sevilla satisfied given the context of the game.

The much-awaited winter break is finally here. The team have been ravaged by injuries, they have had to put in a herculean effort this month, but they find themselves in a brilliant position in the league: five points from league leaders Real Madrid but five points clear of third placed Real Betis. Even if Atleti beat Granada in their game in hand, we will still be eight points above fifth place. The new year begins with a trip to Cádiz before the cup match against Real Zaragoza.

GAME SUMMARY

1. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Koundé, Fernando, Diego Carlos, Rekik, Delaney (Augustinsson, 86'), Joan Jordán, Rakitic (Gudelj, 70'), Ocampos (Valentino, 90+2'), Papu Gómez (Juanlu, 86') and Rafa Mir (En-Nesyri, 69').

1. FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen, Araujo, Piqué, Eric García (Lenglet, 72'), Jordi Alba, Busquets, Frankie de Jong (Luuk de Jong, 85'), Gavi, Dembélé, Abde and Jutglá (Nico, 73').

GOALS: 1-0, 32': Papu Gómez; 1-1, 45': Araujo.

REFEREE: Carlos del Cerro Grande. Yellows for Busquets, Abde, Gavi, Delaney and Juanlu. Red for Koundé.