Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos’s personal aim handed his outdated enemy Barcelona a slender 1-Zero win over Sevilla on Friday in La Liga, taking the Catalans prime of the desk. Veteran centre-back Ramos deflected Lamine Yamal’s header into his personal web within the 76th minute to interrupt the impasse in a decent conflict. The 37-year-old stated this week he had deliberate a particular aim celebration if he scored in opposition to Barca after his summer time return to Spain from Paris Saint-Germain, however placing by his personal web was not a part of the plan.
“Ramos is a spectacular defender, today he had the misfortune of scoring an own goal but he had a good game,” Barcelona coach Xavi instructed reporters.
“It was unlucky for him but for us it was good.”
He continued: “Sergio grows in these atmospheres, it’s an unfortunate goal, it hits him and bounces in.”
Barcelona’s victory helped the Catalans overtake Girona on the prime of the desk, with their neighbours internet hosting third-place Real Madrid on Saturday.
Xavi’s aspect have been leapfrogged by Girona and Madrid after they drew at Mallorca on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow I have a birthday party, I can’t watch the game, imagine that. I’ll follow it but I can’t watch, it’s a pity – may the best team win,” stated Xavi.
“The only thing that we can control was today, we feel good about it, we deserved more goals and we had a great game against a great team.”
Before the sport Sevilla induced a stir by asserting their administrators wouldn’t attend the standard lunch or sit within the presidential field in protest at Barcelona’s involvement within the refereeing corruption scandal.
The Catalan membership and a few of their former administrators have been charged with bribery on Thursday.
Xavi began winger Raphinha in attacking midfield with Lamine Yamal on the flank, searching for extra dynamism behind striker Robert Lewandowski.
Joao Felix crashed a shot off the crossbar after a advantageous run by Joao Cancelo as Barcelona made the early operating, however Sevilla have been sharp on the counter-attack.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen clawed away an effort from former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic and a shot by Dodi Lukebakio, whereas Gavi beautifully blocked together with his chest to foil Lucas Ocampos.
Unlikely supply
Xavi’s experiment with Raphinha was lower brief when the Brazilian went down injured and he was changed by La Masia graduate Fermin Lopez, who rescued Barcelona at Mallorca with a late strike.
The midfielder was rapidly teed up by 16-year-old starlet Yamal however might solely handle a gentle shot, his one disappointing second on an in any other case spectacular outing.
Gavi’s shot was deflected narrowly over as Barcelona turned the screw in the hunt for the opening aim.
Eventually it got here, from an unlikely supply, with Ramos inadvertently knocking Yamal’s header again into the hazard space previous Orjan Nyland.
Ramos’s touches has been greeted by whistles by Barcelona followers for his historical past within the Spanish capital, which turned to ironic cheers as his personal aim was replayed on the massive display on the Olympic Stadium.
At the age of 9 Yamal had stood beside Ramos as a Barcelona mascot in 2016 when the centre-back captained Real Madrid in a Clasico.
Until his personal aim, Ramos had performed properly and helped preserve Barcelona at bay.
The defender made a advantageous block to foil Lewandowski in stoppage time, however by then the harm was executed.
“In that move Ramos was defending well, he had bad luck,” stated Sevilla coach Jose Luis Mendilibar.
“The ball hit him and he didn’t have time to react how he wanted.”
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