Player Ratings And What We Learned

FC Barcelona went eight points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga after beating Sevilla 3-0 at Camp Nou on Sunday night thanks to goals from Jordi Alba, Gavi, and Raphinha.

Here are some player ratings and what we learned from the tie.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen

Had little to nothing to do for most of the game save for being alert on a couple of counter attacks that amounted to nothing, and having to get Barca’s play restarted when the ball was passed back to him. Was barely tested by a late header after Barca were already well in front. 7

Jordi Alba

Knocked in a lovely ball for Raphinha after Busquets was brought off and had assumed the captain’s armband. With a quarter of an hour gone, he was unlucky not to find Lewandowski in the box with a defended cross and another ball of his was threatening from the resulting corner. Snuffed out a dangerous move around 35 minutes in, when appearing at risk of being exposed by a through ball down Sevilla’s right. One of his late first half crosses was almost an own goal by Nemanja Gudelj, and he fully deserved his opener around the hour mark. Porvided an assist for Raphinha, and will give Alejandro Balde plenty of positional rivalry on this showing. 9 – MAN OF THE MATCH

Andreas Christensen

Another solid performance from the Dane who is always cool and composed. Helped spare Pedri’s potential blushes when the ‘8’ lost the ball in midfield in the first half. 8

Ronald Araujo

Came close with a header from a corner on 17 minutes. Was tracking back well to block a dangerous Sevilla pass across the box approaching half time, though an offside flag was raised. Got applause for a double diving head tackle on Ivan Rakitic. Came out for the second half despite suffering a nasty tackle and was strong until the end. 8

Jules Kounde

Playing right back allows the Frenchman to get forward and be adventurous. He was the architect of one of Barca’s most promising first half moves connecting well with Raphinha, only for Lewandowski to be too slow trying to bring Gavi into action. Found Raphinha with the long lobbed ball that allowed him to set up Gavi. 8

Sergio Busquets

Brought off early for Franck Kessie after a nasty early foul, so didn’t have enough time to make an impact on the match. Hopefully his knock is not too serious given Barca’s packed calendar lying ahead. According to Cadena SER, his camp have said that the skipper could be out for two to three weeks. N/A

Frenkie de Jong

Had a bright early starting controlling the tempo, but started to lose the midfield battle in a good 10 minute spell for Sevilla with around 35 down on the clock. Was better after the interval and played Alba in to assist Raphinha. 7

Pedri

Always looking to connect play and thread through the final ball but was pretty anonymous in the first half. Had a much better second 45 and exerted more influence on the game. 7

Gavi

Came alive by almost providing an assist to Lewandowski in the first half. Was rarely on the losing side of aerial duels despite his short height. Opened up the field nicely on one break which was terminated by poor decision making from Raphinha. Almost decapitated by Loic Bade but brushed it off. Was a constant threat and the pay off was his goal on 70 minutes, his first in the ‘6’ shirt, when Raphinha found him at the back post. 8

Robert Lewandowski

Had a quiet opening 15 minutes before being brought into the game by Alba and Gavi. Almost converted a headed down pass from the 18-year-old but then dropped off again until a rocket almost went past Bono inside his left post and was tipped away by the Moroccan Qatar 2022 star. Should have done better when given the reins on a dangerous late first half move and needed to find Gavi sooner. The same logic applied to another Alba cross after the interval. Though he was close with a late low driven free kick, his showing wasn’t much to write home about. 6

Raphinha

The Brazilian’s confidence is growing again when it comes to trying to take opposition players on, though he enjoyed little early success. Xavi was angry with him when he made little of Gavi opening up the park in midfield and palming it off him down the right flank with half an hour gone. Came out for the second half with a spring in his step and moved more central as Kounde covered the right, but again ticked Xavi off when squandering another peach of an Alba cross at the back post. Redeemed himself with a clever assist for Gavi and could have been the hero when played in over the top shortly after if not skying his effort. Won a dangerous free kick on the cusp of getting his shot off then got the goal that his resilience deserved. Brought off for Ferran Torres to applause. 8

Substitutes

Franck Kessie

Quick feet and a cool pass to Raphinha drew a cheer from the crowd. Intercepted a dangerous tackle in his own penalty box in a spell where Sevilla were the better team nearing half time. Provided a lovely and clever assist for Alba with an outside of the foot dink, capping his best performance for Barca since joining from AC Milan on a free transfer. 8

Ansu Fati

Failed to beat his man on a fast break down the left wing, but admittedly had little time to get into the game. 6

Ferran Torres

Played a poor ball into the box approaching 90 minutes, which was one of few touches in a short cameo. 6

Marcos Alonso, Alejandro Balde

N/A

What we learned…

Captain Jordi Alba can be trusted to lead the troops in Busquets’ absence, but Xavi now has to decide whether he can continue with his four man midfield and has the luxury of the eight-point cushion to try new things if necessary.

Kessie gave him something to think in this respect, and Raphinha stated his case for being the fixed right winger and not having Xavi possibly use Gavi as a false one instead in a rejig.

Barca’s players have now won a challenge given to them by Xavi and will enjoy two days’ rest. After that, it is Villarreal away a week from now.