XtraTime Web Desk: La Liga leaders Barcelona were held to a goalless draw during their clash against Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Friday night. The result gives an opportunity for arch rivals Real Madrid to catch up the Catalans if they win their next fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday. Barcelona are now on 65 points from 30 games while Real Madrid are on 62 points having played a match less.
It was a tactical game between the two coaches Quique Setien and Julen Lopetegui, with both sides creating opportunities but failing to score. Barcelona’s talismanic captain Lionel Messi was stifled by Joan Jordan, Kounde and the rest of the Sevilla defence which meant the Argentine failed to find the back of the net for the first time since the restart of La Liga.
Barcelona manager Setien made a few changes from the last match against Leganes. Luis Suarez for the first time since the restart of La Liga got an opportunity ahead of Antoine Griezmann.
Sevilla got a great opportunity to go ahead as Jules Kounde’s shot just missed the target. Barcelona too had their chances with a freekick from Messi which headed away off the goal line by Kounde. There were some heated moments towards the end of the first half when Messi pushed Diego Carlos to the ground after a challenge and a small fracas followed that produced yellow cards for Busquets and Fernando, but not for the Argentine or the Brazilian. Both teams went into the breather failing to break the deadlock.
Sevilla boss Lopetegui brought on Ever Banega in the second half to press for an opening goal and it immediately paid off. Lucas Ocampos nearly scored after a quickly taken freekick from Jesus Navas, only for a reaction save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen to keep things scoreless.
The hosts got another great chance to take the lead around 75th minute as they launched a counter attack in which they had numbers on the Barcelona defence, but a last-gasp intervention from Jordi Alba spoiled the chance. As a last gap resort to break the deadlock Setien brought in Griezmann and Riqui Puig for Auturo Vidal and Ivan Rakitic, but that did affect any changes in the result. A header from Luis Suarez went over the crossbar in the final minutes meaning Barcelona had to be satisfied with a point, opening the doors at the top of table clash.