Just can't play a game without controversy, can we? Once again, thanks to BeIN Sport not being on Time Warner, I watched the game via internet highlights and streamed commentary.
Without Pique and Puyol, Villanova was again forced to play Song and Mascherano at the back, and once again the defense was suspect and exploited by a good Sevilla side, who just two weeks ago beat Madrid. Sevillas first came in the 25th minutes when a cross deflected off Mascheranos boot and landed at the feet of Piotr Trochowski whose shot was given a very disappointing half hearted effort by Valdes. While an unfortunate bounce for Marscherano, Dani Alves HAS to do a better job of closing down. I'm not sure if he was screening Valdes, or if he was just being lazy, but it was a goal that could have had a better defensive effort behind it.
Sevillas second came after the break in the 53rd, when a poor Busquets pass turned it over in their own half, and allowed Negredo to cooly chip Valdes to put the Sanchez Pizjuan into full on rapture mode, 2 goals up against the undefeated league leaders, whom they haven't beaten in the last 5 attempts. Again, lazy defending from the defense, as Song didn't want to risk a red card and was quickly bumped off by Negredo on his was into the box. I can forgive Song, as he isn't a center-back (yet), and he isn't sure how much contact you can get away with in La Liga. Hopefully he will know now, that you can make more contact than that.
Five minutes after the Negredo goal, one Cesc Fabregas came through with his first goal since February for Barcelona, a 20 yard strike from the top of the box that beat Palop and lets FCB back into the game. Barcelona would need to show more than that to get points today though.
While watching the game updates online, this happened in the 72nd minute (courtesy of Goal.com),
'HANDBAGS AT THE SANCHEZ PIZJUAN!! A number of Sevilla players are surrounding the referee and it looks like Gary Medel has been sent off for the home side. Replays show the Sevilla man nudged his head into Fabregas' face off the ball, but the Barca man certainly made the most of it. Silly, silly behaviour from Medel. That is the last thing his side need as they look to hold on to what would be a huge three points against the side top of La Liga'
A spew of comments regarding acting, diving, making a meal out of it, etc, came flying out of the Sevilla camp.When reading the comments I had thought something like this had happened;
He didn't hit the ground grabbing at his face and writhing in pain, and his reaction is hardly overacting in your normal footy sense. Was there contact? Probably a touch, but I would hardly accuse Fabregas of being a deceitful, cheating, scumbag.
With Sevilla down to ten men, Barcelona would get themselves back into the game through none other than the Cule turned Gunner turned Cule. Fabregas scores his second of the match, in the 88th, saving a point for Barcelona! Again, not without controversy, as Tello appeared to make contact with the ball with his hand, but it was (rightfully) ruled incidental by the refs. The blame has to lay on Sevilla, as they were trying to bring the ball out of the back, surrounded by Barcelona players with only minutes left in the game. A wide clearance would have avoided the situation, but some nice buildup after the contact allowed Fabregas to finish from close range, Leo Messi with the assist.
With 4 minutes of injury time added, Barca would complete the come back through substitute David Villa. A give and go with Messi in the box sprung Villa free to finish from 6 yards.
Barcelona continues their perfect start, 6 games out of 6 and really puts the pressure on Madrid with EL CLASSICO! coming next Sunday. However, Barcelona must first travel to Portugal midweek for a Champions League encounter again Benfica.
¡Visca Blaugrana!
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