The game between Sevilla and Barcelona Femeni ended in a 1-1 draw. The Andalusian side successfully halted Barcelona’s formidable run of victories after holding the champions to a stalemate on Matchday 29.
Barca, who hasn’t failed to win a league game since losing 4-3 to Atletico in June 2021, finally had their winning run brought to an end in Seville.
After being crowned champions on Matchday 27 after defeating Sporting de Huelva by 3-0, Barcelona were already confirmed Liga F title holders. With the league title in the bag , as well as certain qualification for the UEFA Women’s Champions League next season, the Blaugrana’s objectives were almost complete.
However, there is one last goal to be achieved, winning the Champions League. A tournament in which the Catalan queens have secured a spot in the final that will take place in Eindhoven next month.
With this last objective in mind, and considering the league title signed, sealed, and delivered, Barcelona has been engaging in heavy squad rotation. The win against Real Sociedad, saw them rest a few players that have constantly been in the starting eleven all through the season. They won the game by a score line of 4-2 after ripping their opponents apart in the first half, but a wave of substitutions in the second half saw the intensity drop by a few levels.
In the game against Sevilla, it was obvious how much manager Jonathan Giraldez wants to rest his key players. A starting lineup that fielded quite a number of youngsters with the noticeable absence of key players like Aitana Bonmati, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Patri Guijarro.
Considering the lineup, Barcelona, as expected, struggled to create clear goal scoring opportunities. The team maintained its dominance brilliantly by keeping possession of the ball. However, they lacked the fearsome attacking intensity they often displayed on matchdays.
While the choice of resting key players and giving the youngsters and other team members enough game time is applaudable, the decision brought an end to their formidable run in the league.
Barcelona, who had a perfect season last year after winning all the games played in the league, had won all 27 games played up to this point, where they drew away against Sevilla.
We bring you a review of how the game went down between Sevilla FC and Barcelona Femeni
First Half
Barcelona tried to get the ball into the opposition’s box and get a goal in the early minutes of the first half.
However, the team couldn’t create any clear goal scoring chances.
There were various attempts from Mariona Caldentey, Geyse Ferreira, and Bruna Vilamala, but none yielded a goal.
In the 3rd minute of the game, Mariona Caldentey almost found the back of the net, but her attempt on goal was forced into a corner kick.
Geyse almost opened the scoring in the 9th minute after a beautiful cross was delivered into the box by Ana Maria Crnogorcevic, however, the forward was unable to catch the ball cleanly and couldn’t produce a decent strike.
In the same play, the ball fell to Bruna, who also couldn’t make the most of the opportunity.
Vicky Lopez made her way into the opposition’s box in the 11th minute, and she played a pass across the face of goal, but the pass was too fast for the sliding Bruna Vilamala to hit the target.
Almost immediately, Sevilla almost gave Barcelona a scare in the 13th minute from a corner kick, but the header sent the ball wide of the goal post.
The first half continued in similar fashion, with Vicky, and Bruna having attempts on goal only for the ball to sail harmlessly wide of the goal post.
Mariona also put the ball over the crossbar after another delivery from Crnogorcevic in the 34th minute of the affair.
The first half ended goalless, and both teams walked back into the dugout sharing the spoils.
Second Half
The start of the second half was similar to the first, void of goalmouth action and clear goal scoring opportunities.
However, in the 50th minute, Geyse found herself through on goal, but the Barcelona forward took a touch too much and ended up losing the ball to her marker, without being able to take a shot on goal.
Barcelona were punished for that wasted chance in the 53rd minute when a pass from the right flank found Martin Prieto in space in front of Barca’s box. The striker broke the deadlock by calmly putting the ball under control and slotting it home past Sandra Panos, who was replacing Gemma Font in goal after the latter picked up a knock during the warm-up session just before kick-off.
With the majority of their key players out of the matchday squad and the ones that made the squad list still sitting on the bench, Barcelona’s bench made a few moves to change their fortunes.
They made a few substitutions, bringing on Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, and Oshoala to reinforce the team and possibly get back into the game.
However, before the substitutes could leave an impact on the pitch, it was Barcelona’s top scorer who saved her team from conceding a second goal in the 72nd minute of the game. Oshoala had to be alert while on defensive duties from a Sevilla corner. The forward headed Sevilla’s attempt on goal off the line, thus keeping the tie still within Barcelona’s reach.
The champions, who now needed an equalizer, kept knocking at the door. But a missed chance from Geyse at the far end of the post following a low cross into the box and two saves made by the Sevilla goalkeeper denying Irene Paredes a chance to get her name on the score sheet helped Sevilla maintain their lead.
But the Catalan giants would not be denied. With ten minutes left to go, Ana Maria Crnogorcevic got the equalizer for Barcelona after being set up by Asisat Oshoala. After a cross was delivered into the box, the Nigerian forward held off her marker and got the ball. But with her back to goal, she couldn’t find the chance to take the shot and instead laid it up for the Swiss to finish.
Barcelona kept attacking in a bid to score a second goal, but they were unable to put the ball in the back of the net again, and the game ended in a stalemate.
Goals and Assists
FC Barcelona Femeni
80′ Ana Maria Crnogorcevic – GOAL
Asisat Oshoala – ASSIST
Sevilla FC
53′ Martin Prieto – GOAL
Arola Aparicio – ASSIST
Substitutions
66′ Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, Asisat Oshoala – IN
Martina Fernandez, Bruna Vilamala, Lucia Corrales – OUT
77′ Ingrid Engen, Ari Arias – IN
Keira Walsh, Vicky Lopez – OUT
The draw brings an end to a wonderful run of 62 league victories for Barcelona. And although their run of wins might have come to an end, the champions still have their unbeaten record untainted.
