LA LIGA
Madrid, Oct 6: Lamine Yamal was out injured, Robert Lewandowski missed a potential equalizing penalty kick and Barcelona lost its second straight match with a disheartening 4-1 defeat at Sevilla in the Spanish league.
Combined with a midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Barcelona is not entering the international break in a positive mood.
The result also meant that Real Madrid remained atop the standings, two points ahead of previously unbeaten Barcelona.Madrid beat Villarreal 3-1 on Saturday.“We play for an incredible club and for supporters who are hurting after this defeat. But we have to accept it and look forward,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said on Sunday.
“It’s important that we stick together. We are a good team and when we return from the international break we’ll fight for every title.” Sevilla, which beat Barcelona in La Liga for the first time in a decade, is sixth.
Yamal aggravated an injury in his groin area against PSG and will be sidelined for two to three weeks.
Alejandro Balde earned a penalty for Barcelona in the 74th but Lewandowski shot wide left from the spot after two stutter steps as he saw Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move where he was aiming.
Isaac Romero scored one goal and earned another for Sevilla as Barcelona struggled early on in 33-degree heat (more than 90 Fahrenheit).
Romero was fouled by Ronaldo Araujo to set up a penalty that former Barcelona winger Alexis Sanchez converted 13 minutes in.
Romero then finished off a counterattack in the 36th to double the advantage after Barcelona defender Jules Koundé was stripped of the ball.
Marcus Rashford pulled one back shortly before the break, using one touch to redirect a cross from Pedri by the far post for his first La Liga goal since joining Barcelona on loan in July.
After Lewandowski’s miss, Jose Angel Carmona finished off a counterattack with a long, angled shot past an outstretched Wojciech Szczesny in the 89th. Akor Adams added another six minutes into stoppage time.
Barcelona had won its seven previous matches with Sevilla.
Ten-man Atletico heldAtletico Madrid was held to a 1-1 draw at winless Celta Vigo.Atletico went ahead early on an own-goal from Carl Starfelt.
But then Atletico defender Clement Lenglet picked up his second yellow card shortly before halftime for a foolish foul from behind far from the goal, and Iago Aspas equalized for Celta Vigo in the 68th.
Atletico is in fifth place.Also, Alaves beat Elche 3-1; Real Betis won 2-1 at Espanyol; and Rayo Vallecano won 1-0 at Real Sociedad.
For Barcelona, the international break couldn’t have come at a more crucial juncture.
Two demoralising defeats in a matter of days — first in Europe against PSG and now in the league against Sevilla — have left the Catalan giants searching for answers, both tactically and mentally.
Hansi Flick’s men, who began the season with such promise, now find themselves grappling with injuries, missed chances and a visible dip in confidence. The absence of young sensation Lamine Yamal, sidelined for a few weeks, and Robert Lewandowski’s costly penalty miss have compounded their troubles. But perhaps more concerning is the loss of rhythm and conviction that once defined Barcelona’s play.
As Real Madrid continue to surge ahead at the top of the table, the pressure on Flick and his team is mounting.
The German coach, still settling into his role, must now rebuild both morale and momentum — reuniting a fragmented squad that still possesses immense talent but seems momentarily lost in transition.
The next few weeks will demand introspection, tactical recalibration and above all, resilience.
Barcelona’s fight for redemption, when club football resumes, will not just be about chasing points — it will be about rediscovering their identity, their hunger, and the spirit that has long set them apart in world football. (AP)
