Sevilla FC succumbed to FC Barcelona that played the best game of the season and is still in the league. Those of Lopetegui they went on half gas and they did not disturb Ter Stegen throughout the first half. The changes at halftime failed to give the team the extra it needed to score.
With Chelsea and Real Madrid in the lead
In a key week for the future of the season, Lopetegui returned to sacrifice the game that gave him options to get hooked on the LaLiga train to focus on the second leg of the Cup. A modus operandi already used by the Basque coach in December, when he threw down the first position in the group stage against Chelsea to arrive fresh at the league match against Real Madrid. On that occasion, the former national coach put an entire eleven of substitutes in front of the English team and left Sánchez-Pizjuán thrashed. To make matters worse, he also lost to Real Madrid at the weekend. Against FC Barcelona, Lopetegui came out with a recognizable eleven, but without the mindset or determination own of such an important clash, and it was noticed from the beginning, as against the blues.
Lopetegui, surprised by Koeman
Ronald Koeman clearly won the coaching battle by surprising his counterpart with a scheme of three centrals that allowed the Catalans to neutralize the Sevilla attack. There was no shot on goal or dangerous approach of the Sevilla FC on Ter Stegen’s door throughout the first half. Lopetegui tried to move the tree in the second part, but with no luck, and finished the game unhinged for Barça’s second goal, the impossibility of his team to create chances and the performance of the referee. Also, important players like Navas and the Papu Gomez are far from their best, and against Barça it was noticed again.
Sevilla FC, thinking about the next game
The game was a reality check for Sevilla FC, who arrived on a roll after six consecutive victories in the League, the last five without conceding and against FC Barcelona they kissed the canvas at the first exchange. Obviously Wednesday’s game will be different for the scenario and the result of the first leg, but Lopetegui must learn from the mistakes of this first round. Sevilla FC must be more aggressive and go look for FC Barcelona upstairs, where it is proving to have problems this season. He did so at the Camp Nou in the first round and in the Cup, and it went well in both games. On Wednesday half measures are not worth, Lopetegui must go with everything to scare away the ghosts of Chelsea and Real Madrid week.
Related
—
