Barcelona have successfully overturned a two-goal first-leg deficit against Sevilla and emerged winners by a scoreline of 3-0 at the Camp Nou Stadium. The Catalans have now secured their spot in the Copa del Rey Final and will await the result of the other semi-final between Atheltic Bilbao and Levante.
Ousmane Dembele gave the hosts a major launchpad for the two-legged match with a stunning goal in the 12th minute of the match. Sevilla were then awarded a penalty that they failed to convert, and that seemed to shift all the momentum in Barcelona’s favour.
Gerard Pique scored the second goal of the night in the 95th minute with a leaping header inside the box. Martin Braithwaite then came off the bench and scored the pivotal third goal of the night. Sevilla were reduced to ten men at the end of regulation time, and it played a major role in their downfall. Here’s how Barcelona players were rated in their sensational 3-0 victory at the Camp Nou.
Barcelona Player Ratings Against Sevilla
GK: Marc Andre Ter Stegen – 8/10
The German goalie inspired his team to a 3-2 victory in the two-legged cup fixture. Ter Stegen saved Lucas Ocampos’ penalty in regulation time when the scoreline was 1-0.
RB: Sergino Dest – 7/10
Dest had a satisfactory evening at the right-back slot. Dest was replaced by Antoine Griezmann in the second half of the fixture.
CB: Oscar Mingueza – 7/10
Mingueza was guilty of conceding a penalty in the second half which Sevilla failed to capitalise on. Mingueza was later substituted for Junior Firpo.
CB: Gerard Pique – 9/10
Gerard Pique had a splendid night, and he once again proved to one and all that he still deserves to wear the Barcelona shirt. The defender scored an injury-time equaliser in the context of the two-legged match, which gave the Catalans an additional thirty minutes to make their way past Sevilla. Pique seemingly injured himself in the game’s dying moments, yet he hobbled around as Barcelona had already reached the substitution limit.
CB: Clement Lenglet – 7/10
A good performance from Lenglet after a very long time. However, he nearly conceded a penalty around the 80-minute mark.
LB: Jordi Alba – 8/10
Jordi Alba had a wonderful evening at the Camp Nou Stadium. The Spanish full-back assisted Barcelona’s winning goal of the night by Martin Braithwaite.
CM: Sergio Busquets – 8/10
An extremely calm and composed performance from Busquets. The veteran was comfortable on the ball and barely seemed to put a foot wrong. Ilaix Moriba came on to replace Busquets in the second half of the match.
CM: Pedri – 8/10
Pedri was smooth in midfield and barely made a mistake all night long. The youngster has cemented his place in the Barcelona team with solid and commanding performances like the one at the Camp Nou this evening. Martin Braithwaite came on to replace Pedri in the closing few exchanges of regulation time.
CM: Frenkie de Jong – 7/10
The Dutchman had a rather calm evening by his standards but seemed to be doing his job just right, and that’s what mattered for the Catalans at the end of the day.
RW: Ousmane Dembele – 8/10
Dembele scored a stunning goal in the opening few minutes of the game and got Ronald Koeman’s side going for the night. Dembele was later replaced in the fixture with a suspected knee problem. Fransisco Trincao came on to replace Dembele.
ST: Lionel Messi 9/10
The Argentine was crucial to the victory against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey. Messi was instrumental in the first goal Barcelona scored in the night. Only the presence of the great attacker seemed to be causing panic in the Sevilla back-line. Messi would have certainly not minded another goal against Sevilla to add to his tally of 41 goals.
Substitutes
ST: Antoine Griezmann – 7/10
A substitution of significance from Koeman who brought on Griezmann, the architect of Gerard Pique’s crucial 95th-minute goal.
CM: Ilaix Moriba – 7/10
The young midfielder showed flare with his gameplay and showed great chemistry with Lionel Messi. Moriba was brought on to replace Sergio Busquets at the centre of the pitch.
RB: Junior Firpo – 7/10
A strong defensive performance from Firpo after coming on to replace Oscar Mingueza.
ST: Martin Braithwaite – 8/10
Braithwaite scored the winning goal of the two-legged cup match and also the crucial third goal of the night. The striker replaced Pedri from the starting eleven at the 89th-minute mark.
ST: Francisco Trincao – 7/10
Trincao replaced Ousmane Dembele and had a lively 40 minutes or so down the right-hand side.
