Sevilla started brightly and went ahead in the 19th minute when Youssouf Fofana headed in from Félix Correia’s delivery. The lead lasted only three minutes, as Raphinha equalized in the 22nd minute from the right side of the box after Andreas Christensen released him early. That first strike came with his right foot and reset the tone before halftime. Barcelona then tilted the pitch after the break and went in front in the 52nd minute. Lamine Yamal whipped a cross to the near-post channel and Raphinha glanced a header past Odysseas Vlachodimos.

The Brazilian completed his treble in the 69th minute, again fed by Yamal, this time finishing with his left foot from inside the area. Barcelona also hit the frame twice on the night, once through Raphinha and once via Yamal. Sevilla pushed with changes, but the visitors kept control in the middle and limited clear looks. Hansi Flick’s side closed the final stages without fuss, with game management and steady possession. The pattern of chances, and the finishing clinic from their captain on the night, carried Barcelona over the line.

Numbers that told the story

Barcelona owned 69% possession and attempted 642 passes to Sevilla’s 278, a measure of how the game lived in the away side’s preferred rhythm. The expected goals split read 3.26 to 0.45, which aligned with a shot count of 24 to 7 and shots on target at 7 to 3. Big chances landed 6 to 1 for Barcelona, and touches in the opposition box were 28 to 13. The visitors also created 77 final-third entries compared to Sevilla’s 52, and completed 581 accurate passes to 203.

Sevilla did have a few defensive wins, taking more tackles overall at 21 versus 15, and a higher ground duel win rate at 53%. Barcelona answered in the air, winning 16 of 26 aerial duels, while Sevilla won 10 of 26. Interceptions favored Barcelona 10 to 2, and clearances told a story of Sevilla under pressure, with Barcelona making 24 and the hosts 11 as they absorbed and then recycled attacks. Cross accuracy leaned Sevilla’s way at 44% against Barcelona’s 27%, but the volume of Barcelona’s entries and the quality of their shots was decisive. The scoreboard, xG margin, and big-chance count lined up cleanly with the final 1-3 result.

Sevilla’s plan and what worked

Set up in a 4-2-3-1, Sevilla mixed crosses and direct play to good effect early. Their long balls landed at 27 of 56 and crosses at 4 of 9, both decent returns given the territory battle. The goal came from a classic wide-to-central pattern, with Correia providing the assist and Fofana timing the header from close range. Fofana was Sevilla’s top performer by Sofascore Rating at 8, adding eight duels won and five recoveries to his goal. Lucien Agoumé stitched passes at 29 of 31 and hit eight of nine long balls, while Miguel Sierra contributed a key pass and a 6.9 rating before going off.

Defensively, Sevilla competed well in ground duels and total tackles, and their line caught Barcelona offside five times. Odysseas Vlachodimos made five saves and claimed one high ball, but goals prevented stood at -1.41, reflecting the quality and placement of Barcelona’s finishing. Robbie Ure worked the back line with two shots and four duels won, though service was limited after the interval. The bench brought energy but not sustained territory, as Sevilla’s second-half xG dipped to 0.06 while Barcelona surged to 2.78. Agoumé’s late booking summed up a tiring midfield that had chased the game for long stretches.

MVP: Raphinha’s perfect hat-trick performance

Raphinha signed off with a Sofascore Rating of 10, the top mark on the scale, and a hat-trick that ticked every finishing box. He scored with his right foot at 22 minutes, a header at 52, and his left foot at 69, showing range and calm in front of goal. Across 77 minutes, he produced four shots, three on target, and clipped the woodwork once. His expected goals landed at 0.888, which underlines how efficiently he converted the chances he found.

Beyond the goals, Raphinha completed 19 of 23 passes, won four duels, and contributed one tackle. He logged 35 touches and carried the ball nine times for 61 meters, helping Barcelona advance from the right half-space. He needed only two contests to win two dribbles, and kept turnovers low with just four possessions lost. It was clinical, tidy, and decisive, the kind of outing that turns control into points.

Yamal, Rodri and Barcelona’s control game