Barcelona moved provisionally top of LaLiga with a 1-0 home win over Sevilla on Friday after veteran defender Sergio Ramos accidentally bundled the ball into his own net in the second half.
Ramos, a former Real Madrid captain playing his old rivals Barcelona again for the first time since 2020, was helpless when he attempted to block a cross from 16-year-old Lamine Yamal and saw the ball creep over the line in the 76th minute.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)
Ramos, who once held young Yamal’s hand in the tunnel when the Barca forward was a club mascot, received a hostile welcome when his early touches were met with jeers from the home fans.
But a loud cheer rang out at the Montjuic Olympic Stadium, Barca’s temporary home ground, after the 37-year-old’s own goal.
The result moved Barca one point clear of Girona, who are second with a game in hand, while Sevilla are 12th.
“We are suffering too much. I think we played well,” Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez said in his post-match press conference. “We attacked well and understood what the game need. We just lacked that goal, but I am happy with the game. It was one of our better performances.
“Sevilla did well, but we generated enough chances to not have to suffer so much.
“The important thing is that we have created chances and felt comfortable against a great team. We were the better side. I am happy with the performance, but we have to be more effective in front of goal.”
PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images
Tension between the two clubs ran high before kickoff when Sevilla said they would have no representation in the stadium’s VIP box due to the ongoing ‘Negreira case.’
Barcelona are under investigation for suspected “active bribery” as part of a probe into suspected corruption spanning two decades at the refereeing committee where Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira was vice-president.
Barcelona described it as an “unjustified and inappropriate attack” on the club, saying Sevilla were denying them their right to a defence in the legal process.
On the pitch, Barca had a bright start with João Félix beating the keeper in the 22nd minute with a powerful shot which crashed off the underside of the bar and stayed out while at the other end, Gavi made a goal line block to deny Lucas Ocampos.
Barcelona suffered a blow in the 37th minute when Raphinha was forced off with an injury, to be replaced by Fermín López.
“We will see tomorrow when he has more tests,” Xavi said of the Brazilian winger. “Hopefully it is nothing. This is why we rotate and make changes — despite the criticism, especially when results don’t go our way — because it is necessary.”
After a goalless first half, Barca switched gears and looked far more threatening.
Robert Lewandowski was denied by a last-man tackle from Juanlu Sanchez when the striker was through on goal while Gavi saw his header narrowly miss the target.
But the complexion of the game changed after Ramos scored the own goal and though Sevilla also had their chances, Barca managed to keep a clean sheet and maintain their unbeaten start to the season.