Sevilla 2-4 Barcelona: Hits and flops | LaLiga 2018-19

Sevilla hosted FC Barcelona on matchday 25 of LaLiga 2018-19. The Andalusian side was in a cold run of form, winning only four points from the last six matches they played in the league. The Blaugrana were no better, considering current form. They were yet to win convincingly in the month of February with their only win coming against Valladolid by a 1-0 margin.

Barcelona started with Busquets, Vidal, and Rakitic in their midfield. Samuel Umtiti returned to the starting lineup following a long injury layoff. Philippe Coutinho also returned to the starting 11. Sevilla started with a 4-4-1-1 formation with Ben Yedder taking up the striker's role. Jesus Navas and Quincy Promes started in the wide midfield area.

Sevilla opened the scoring with Jesus Navas in the 21st minute. Lionel Messi set things to level 5 minutes later with a tremendous volley. The home team though got their lead back just before half-time through Gabriel Mercado.

What followed in the second half was the one-man show from a diminutive Argentine. Two goals and an assist from Lionel Messi and Sevilla were left wondering what they did wrong.

The Blaugrana extended their lead over Atleti to 10 points until they play Villarreal later today. This game sets the momentum going for two consecutive Clasicos at the Santiago Bernabeu. Let us look at hits and flops from the game.

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#5 Flop: Samuel Umtiti

Umtiti was not at his sharpest against Sevilla, as the lack of match practice showed on the pitch

We understand that it is harsh on the Frenchman particularly since he has just returned from injury. Umtiti returned to defensive duties following a long layoff and against a side that was pressing the life out of Barcelona.

Umtiti did not do much worse if we look at stats. He made three interceptions, a tackle, and he made some clearances as well. But when we look at positioning and intent in the defence, he lacked it. Gerard Pique was clearly the lone soldier in the defence and many times covered up for Umtiti's low confidence and errors.

We know Umtiti is supposed to be on the left side of the side, yet who attempted to block Navas' shot at goal? Pique did. Umtiti on the retreat was showing his back to Ben Yedder instead of attempting to get the ball or put in a last-ditch tackle. We know he is capable of doing both.

During the second goal, Sarabia is about to cut the ball back to Mercado, Pique is busy appealing for a goal kick and yet gets a tackle in and gets all the slander. Umtiti just stands there in the box, completely out of his defensive position, and he wasn't at the far post as well. If Umtiti had kept his defensive position in both cases, he could have intercepted the pass that created both goals.

Gingerly on the return, hopefully, he will be back to his normal self, because this isn't Samuel Umtiti.

#4 Hit: Simon Kjaer

Simon Kjaer always let Suarez know that he was around

A complete opposite of Big Sam at the other end, the Dutch international was rock solid at the back. Bar Lionel Messi's third goal in which he didn't react quickly enough to clear the danger, he couldn't have done much to stop Messi from scoring the three goals he did.

Kjaer's positioning was apt throughout the game and that includes taking out the passing option for Pique when he was dancing inside the box in front of Sergi Gomez.

Kjaer smothered Suarez completely just like every other centre half has done as of late. The defence of Sevilla was not even once broken apart as it happened at the other end. Kjaer ended the game with 4 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 clearance to his name.

During Lionel Messi's third goal, he was just caught napping and that was pretty much the only mistake he made. He stopped Suarez from taking advantage of many opportunities and did well at a time when Barcelona was attacking down the central area of the pitch.

#3 Flop: Nelson Semedo

Quincy Promes had the upper hand in the battle on the flanks, Nelson Semedo was lacklustre

Not a good day at the office for the Portuguese star. Nelson Semedo has been brilliant lately but yesterday against Sevilla was not his best performance. We hardly got to see the link-up plays he is capable of. We also missed his pace and prowess on the right wing.

There wasn't any problem created for Maximilian Wober by Semedo through the right flank. In turn, Wober and Promes both caused him problems through the left-flank. Semedo had a hard time defending against the sheer pace of Promes. Vidal was unhappy several times with the defensive effort on the wing and had more than just words with Semedo.

He wasn't involved in any conceded goals but he wasn't much involved in anything good as well. He tried to come up with intensity but the partnership with Vidal just didn't work out for him. Messi was as usual out of his position in a free roam which left him helpless on the wings.

He made three tackles and an interception but we just cannot overlook how uncomfortable he looked in the defence. Besides he only managed 14 passes and was taken off at half-time along with Vidal.

#2 Hit: Ivan Rakitic

Rakitic was as influential in deciding the result as Lionel Messi

The Croatian midfielder is not a fan favourite among the Barcelona fanbase. People are very quick to point out that he isn't a very creative midfielder, relies heavily on backpasses and side passes, and he doesn't take many risks. Maybe that's why people were overjoyed to see him linked with Inter Milan and PSG in the summer and also at the rumours of him leaving.

Here is the thing, this guy provides the stability that a team might need in situations like yesterday. Sevilla pressing whenever they get the chance, passing quickly amongst each other, and almost every Barcelona player under pressure from the press.

Even Sergio Busquets lost possession twice in the game. Under the dire circumstance, only one Barcelona midfielder did not lose possession even once, and also he did not play any pass to players under pressure, that is Rakitic.

He constantly went down the central area and the half-space to help out with the offence. He always tracked back and helped defensively, making three interceptions. He assisted Messi's first goal with as great a cross as the goal turned out to be.

It was off his left foot and he picked Messi out with precision. How did they get the second goal? Vaclik gave the ball away and Rakitic reads it before any other player on the pitch, picks Dembele well, moves into the box and gives the defence enough to think about before Messi picks his spot before finishing.

If you weren't supporting this guy due to his backpasses, don't enjoy now because he won Barcelona the game, in a way you guys don't like, by not taking risks.

#1 Hit: Lionel Messi

The best there is, the best that ever has been, the best that ever will be: Lionel Messi

And as is the story of every other Barcelona game, this guy turns out to be the person who turns it around in style. As Sevilla fans, you must hate this man. We saw that all the fans at Pizjuan could do was smile, at the end of it. I mean, what a goal.

The first goal Lionel Messi scored, just amazing, impressive to say the least. He is not that tall a man to swing his foot to perfection on the ball just about waist high, it is tough. It reminded of Zidane's stunner against Leverkusen back in the day.

The second goal, belted, with the right foot. The same right foot that Brazilian legend Pele said he should shoot with to get compared to him. What chance did Vaclik have? It was from the edge of the box, not that amount of pace on it, not off Messi's left foot. Still, weaker foot precision, one of Messi's not-so adored skill.

The third goal was easy, too easy for the liking of some. How many of us noticed that Messi was standing there before springing on to the ball? He wasn't expecting a chance there but he reacted first. Vaclik did what he should do, close down the angle almost instantaneously. But Messi, he just needs a fraction of a second to chip it over.

And just when we thought he was done for the day, he received the ball and chipped it over to Suarez, sending him through on goal. Messi's infamous vision exemplified with a pass. In just one game, he showed us everything. To be honest, he didn't dribble much, he passed at what, 74 per cent?

It was a poor game by his standards on the pitch and the quality of the goals just hides it. But there is no denying that his poor game would be once in a lifetime for some players. Thank you for existing, Lionel Andres Messi.