Five goals and two comebacks. Another brace for the top scorer and three goals for the midfielders. Substitutions and rest for the three forwards. Minutes for Fermín. A shining performance by Pablo Torre. And a great ovation for the recovered Gavi. The night was happy, entertaining, and emotional for a Barcelona team that arrives in top form to settle scores with Bayern and Real Madrid.
There was a time when Barcelona struggled in games after international breaks. Not long ago, the Blaugrana team would take to the field without a clear plan and concede early goals. Nights of passive matches with empty minutes were common, where it was hard to make things happen on the pitch. The first halves of yawning are over. There are no periods of boredom. There is no time to fall asleep. Those who blink miss out with this Barça.
Lewandowski, with a penalty goal and another opportunist goal, and Pedri scored quickly against Sevilla
The Blaugrana have taken a liking to the top spot and will arrive at the Bernabéu three points ahead of Real Madrid. Flick will reunite with his former team, Bayern, in the Champions League with the tranquility that he has imprinted his own, electric and fun stamp on his new adventure from the start. This Barça doesn't give any quarter. It doesn't sign armistices or agree to draws. It only wants victories, to collect goals, and to spread fun among its parishioners, who once again enjoy going to the stadium.
As President Laporta says, the team is once again at the center of the life of the culé. And that is the merit of a fast-paced game, of setting a high rhythm, of not making excuses, of always wanting more, and of seeking to suffocate the opponent. Barça does not stop, always in motion, pressing, seeking spaces, and destabilizing defenses.
Reconciliation
The Flick team only wants victories, to collect goals, and to bring fun to their fans, who are enjoying going back to the stadium
Just add to that, the team got a boost with a completely reckless penalty. Lamine Yamal saw Raphinha at the edge of the box, but the ball landed on his right, which is not his strong leg. The forward had to control it and as he was about to turn his body, Peque touched him with his knee. The Brazilian felt the contact, and the referee, who was right on the line, awarded the penalty, a gift for the goal-hungry Lewandowski, who is in fine form and scored the opener.
Lewandowski, at 36, has rejuvenated himself surrounded by all the young players and benefiting from the constant arrivals and crosses into the box. He identifies with that style and with the good memories of his time with Flick, he is determined to lead. That's the only way to understand why at his age he scores more than one goal per match. 14 in 12 games.
Nine was the one who, just four minutes later, opened up the right flank for Lamine Yamal and started the race like a possessed man because he knew it was a dangerous play. The young winger was eager to impress and showed that he had recovered from the overload that made him return prematurely from the Spanish national team. But the recipient of his pass was Koundé, to whom the ball passed under his legs, and it reached Pedri, who placed it firmly out of Nyland's reach. Even Flick let himself get carried away by the euphoria and jumped.
Rest for the trident
Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Lamine Yamal accepted their changes aware that the three tough matches are coming up: Bayern, a classic match, and the derby against Espanyol
Straight after, the Sevilla goalkeeper prevented the third goal in another incredibly vertical play, where Lamine Yamal left Lewandowski alone at the penalty spot. The Polish player didn't score in that one-on-one, but he managed to deflect a low shot-cross from Raphinha. He redirected it enough to beat Nyland. Three goals in 38 minutes, done swiftly.
Even with a 3-0 lead, Barcelona did not relax. The break did not slow down Flick's team at all. Not at all. They came back out with their sights set on the goal. They poured forward into Sevilla's box, and within the first five minutes, they came close to scoring three times. Starting with Lamine Yamal, who got the crowd on their feet with two outside touches. With the first one, from the corner of the box, he aimed for the top corner. Only Nyland's dive prevented the goal. With the second, the winger replicated Vila-real's precise and fantastic pass to leave Raphinha one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Brazilian scored but was ruled offside. With unwavering determination, Raphinha himself attempted a shot from outside the box and skimmed the post.
The Andalusian entered as captain
Among the emotional ovations to Gavi, Pablo Torre took advantage of the final stretch to score a brace
However, it was inevitable that the crowd would start looking towards the bench as the substitutes warmed up. The first one to appear there was Fermín, who soon replaced Raphinha. Then came the most anticipated moment when the longed-for Gavi put on his bib with a half smile, knowing that the Barcelona fans would chant his name. He was the fifth substitution, captain's armband included. He hadn't played with Barça since November 7, 2023. But before him, Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal also left, aware that this was just the appetizer for the three main courses on the schedule: Bayern, El Clásico, and the derby against Espanyol.
The emotiveness of the final stretch turned Pablo Torre into pragmatism, who took advantage of the fifteen minutes he had to score a brace, the second one from a free-kick that Iñigo failed to touch. Idumbo scored the visiting team's consolation goal. It was the only setback, alongside Ansu Fati's fruitless effort, on a night as joyful as Barça's current moment.
Technical specifications
Barcelona, 5 - Sevilla, 1
Barcelona: Iñaki Peña, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde, Casadó, Pedri (83), Raphinha (Fermín, min. 66); Lamine Yamal (Pablo Torre 76), Lewandowski (Pau Víctor 66), and Ansu Fati (Gerard Martín 76)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Sevilla: Nyland, Carmona, Badé, Marcao, Pedrosa (Montiel 81), Agoumé (Idumbo 70), Gudelj, Lukébakio, Peque (Suso 46) (Sow 69), Ejuke (Sambi 45+1), and Isaac Romero
Coach: F.J. García Pimienta
Stadium: Olympic Lluís Companys (47,848 spectators)
Referee: De Burgos Bengoechea (Basque referee association)
Cards: Yellow for Pedrosa, Ansu Fati, and Sow
Goals: 1-0 Lewandowski (p) (24), 2-0 Pedri (28), 3-0 Lewandowski (39), 4-0 Pablo Torre (82), 4-1 Idumbo (87), 5-1 Pablo Torre (89)
