Barcelona Secures Victory Over Sevilla Thanks to Sergio Ramos’ Own Goal
Barcelona Edges Past Sevilla with Ramos’ Own Goal: LaLiga Roundup
In a thrilling LaLiga clash, Barcelona clinched a 1-0 victory against Sevilla, momentarily securing the top spot in the league. The pivotal moment came in the second half when veteran defender Sergio Ramos, facing his old rivals for the first time since 2020, inadvertently nudged the ball into his own net.
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Ramos, who once shared a touching moment with 16-year-old Lamine Yamal in the tunnel when the Barca forward was a club mascot, received a less-than-warm welcome from home fans initially, with jeers accompanying his early touches. However, the Montjuic Olympic Stadium erupted in cheers after Ramos’ unexpected own goal in the 76th minute.
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This result propelled Barcelona one point clear of Girona, who currently sit in second place with a game in hand, while Sevilla found themselves in the 12th position.
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In his post-match press conference, Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez shared a range of emotions, saying, “While we faced some challenges, I’m pleased with our overall performance. It was one of our stronger showings. Sevilla certainly performed well, but we had ample chances to mitigate our difficulties.”
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He emphasized the importance of being more effective in front of goal but commended his team’s overall performance against a formidable opponent.
The buildup to the match was marked by tension, as Sevilla chose not to have representation in the stadium’s VIP box due to the ongoing ‘Negreira case.’ Barcelona is currently under investigation for suspected “active bribery” as part of a probe into alleged corruption spanning two decades at the refereeing committee, where Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira served as vice-president.
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On the pitch, Barcelona enjoyed a promising start, with João Félix striking the crossbar in the 22nd minute. Gavi made a crucial goal-line block to deny Lucas Ocampos on the opposite end.
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However, Barcelona’s optimism was tempered when Raphinha was forced off with an injury in the 37th minute, making way for FermÃn López. Xavi expressed hope that Raphinha’s injury was not severe, emphasizing the necessity of squad rotation.
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The second half saw Barcelona intensify their efforts, with Robert Lewandowski denied by a last-man tackle and Gavi narrowly missing the target with a header.
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The turning point arrived with Ramos’ own goal, altering the game’s dynamics. Despite Sevilla having their own chances, Barcelona managed to maintain a clean sheet and preserve their unbeaten start to the season.
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The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, and Barcelona emerged victorious, leaving fans eager for the next thrilling encounter in LaLiga.
