Barcelona must be content to play a goalless draw against Sevilla in a continued match of the Spanish League at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Seville, Saturday (6/20).
Sevilla who acted as the host get the opportunity in the 11th minute. However, Jules Kounde’s shot from inside the penalty box still did not meet the target.
Barcelona responds to pressure from the host. Opportunities were created through Lionel Messi’s free kick in the 21st minute.
La Pulga manages to direct the ball to the near post but the direction of Messi’s kick is read by Kounde and ends in a corner.
After that, Barcelona got two successive opportunities through Messi and Ivan Rakitic. However, the opportunities obtained by these two players have not led to goals.
Barcelona’s dominance is trying to be balanced by Sevilla through aggressive play. The duel between the two teams was more struggling in the middle and the score 0-0 lasted until the end of the first half.
In the second half, Sevilla who had little control of the ball actually got a chance to score a goal through Lucas Ocampos. The Argentine got two chances that Marc-Andre ter Stegen could still fail.
In the 58th minute, Suarez who had minimal chances in the first half had a chance to put his name on the scoreboard. But Suarez’s shot on goal was blocked by a Sevilla defender.
Entering the middle of the second half, Barcelona increasingly dominant pressure to Sevilla. Some opportunities were obtained by Messi and Suarez, although again could not shake Tomas Vaclik’s goal.
In the 88th minute, Suarez even had a golden opportunity to guarantee three points for Barcelona. Unfortunately Suarez kick after receiving a cross Jordi Alba did not meet the target.
After that, Sevilla and Barcelona both had the opportunity to score but failed to convert into goals. 0-0 score lasted until the referee blew the long whistle sign of the end of the second half.
A draw obtained by Barcelona at Sevilla headquarters makes the Blaugrana now threatened by Real Madrid being evicted at the top of the Spanish La Liga standings.
Barcelona must be satisfied with the goalless draw at home to Sevilla. One additional point makes Barcelona now collect 65 points, three points ahead of Real Madrid.
With Real Madrid not playing their 30th week of match, Barcelona are now within shooting range of Real Madrid. Madrid victory will lead them to have the same points with Barcelona.
But Real Madrid will displace Barcelona from the top of the standings because Los Blancos are superior head to head against Barcelona this season.
In this season, Real Madrid drew against Barcelona at Camp Nou and won 2-0 when competing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid will face an uneasy match in Week 30, which is to visit Real Sociedad’s headquarters, Reale Seguros Stadium on Sunday (21/6).
This season, Sociedad has the opportunity to end the season in the Champions League zone. That would be an additional motivation for them to silence Real Madrid.
Sociedad is now in sixth position with a value of 47 points. They are two points away from Atletico Madrid who inhabit the Champions League zone’s deadline.
Sociedad could even cut the gap with third-placed Sevilla to two points if they win against Real Madrid because Sevilla have already played the 30th week of match.
