Sevilla shock Barcelona 4–1: Alexis Sánchez penalty, Romero double and late goals seal a statement LaLiga win. Full match report, tactics, lineups, stats & where to watch.

Sevilla vs Barcelona — One-line snapshot

Sevilla produced a seismic 4–1 upset of LaLiga champions Barcelona at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán — Alexis Sánchez opened the scoring from the spot and Isaac Romero, José Ángel Carmona and Akor Adams finished a ruthless display that ended Barça’s unbeaten run.

Quick scoreboard — the five most important facts (readers want these first)

• Final score: Sevilla 4–1 Barcelona (LaLiga, Oct 5, 2025).
• Scorers: Alexis Sánchez (pen), Isaac Romero, José Ángel Carmona, Akor Adams — Marcus Rashford pulled one back for Barça.
• Controversial VAR moment: Sánchez’s penalty came after a VAR review for a foul on Isaac Romero.
• Missed chance for Barça: Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty in the 76th minute that might have changed the game’s momentum.
• Table impact: The shock loss ended Barcelona’s unbeaten start and left them second in LaLiga behind Real Madrid; Sevilla climbed into the top four provisionally.

Why Sevilla – Barcelona mattered this weekend

This fixture has history and heft: Sevilla’s Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán is one of Spain’s most intimidating grounds, and Barcelona — as reigning champions — head into every trip with pressure to perform and reclaim LaLiga’s summit. Sunday’s game mattered for three reasons:

1. League momentum: With LaLiga tightly contested, dropped points can shift title trajectories; Barcelona had a chance to return to the top but instead suffered a major reversal.
2. Tactical test: Sevilla under Matías Almeyda have shown aggressive counterattacking shape and ruthless transitions; Barcelona under Hansi Flick are managing injuries and rotation, making tactical adaptability crucial.
3. Spotlight moments: The match produced a VAR penalty, a missed spot-kick by Lewandowski, and late clinical finishing — the sort of swing moments that reveal both squad depth and managerial preparedness.

I for (4) one (1) would hate to be Barcelona fan right now 😉#SevillaBarça pic.twitter.com/IBMv7Jb80s

— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) October 5, 2025

 

Build-up & team news (who was fit, who wasn’t)

Barcelona arrived with notable absentees: Lamine Yamal (groin), Raphinha (hamstring), Marc-André ter Stegen (back), Gavi (knee) and Fermín López (groin) were all out, leaving Hansi Flick to name a patched but still starry squad that included Robert Lewandowski, Pedri and Marcus Rashford. (Barca Blaugranes)

Sevilla fielded an experienced front line with Alexis Sánchez — the veteran’s return to Spain produced headlines from the start. Marcelino’s injury list was lighter and the home side showed greater continuity in selection and shape. (Sportsgambler)

The match — minute-by-minute narrative & key incidents

Opening exchange and the VAR penalty (0′–20′)

Sevilla struck the first big moment in the 13th minute. After a VAR review for an incident involving Isaac Romero in the box, the referee awarded a penalty. Alexis Sánchez — the ex-Arsenal and Barcelona forward — stepped up and buried it, sending the stadium into raptures. The spot-kick set the tone and gave Sevilla early belief.

Romero doubles up (20′–40′)

Buoyed by momentum, Sevilla kept pressing. Isaac Romero then scored again from a rapid counterattack that exposed Barcelona’s transitional fragility. For Barcelona, Marcus Rashford produced a moment of class right before halftime — his volley gave Barca hope and reduced the deficit heading into the interval.

Second half — Lewandowski miss and late Sevilla killers (45′–90′+)

The game’s pivotal swing came when Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty in the 76th minute that could have made it 2–2. Instead, Sevilla sealed the contest with two late strikes: José Ángel Carmona’s composed finish and a clinical Akor Adams goal to close the scoring. Barcelona’s inability to recover underscored a wider collapse in intensity and defensive coordination.

Player spotlights — who rose, who fell

Alexis Sánchez — the experienced spark

Sánchez’s penalty was more than a goal; it was a statement. The veteran’s presence unsettled Barça’s defenders and his cool finish after the VAR decision kicked off Sevilla’s commanding performance. His influence on the first 30 minutes was palpable.

Isaac Romero — the youthful finisher

Romero’s second goal — a perfectly executed counterattack finish — showed pace, timing and composure. In a game dominated by Sevilla’s transitions, Romero’s movement and finishing were decisive.

Robert Lewandowski — costly miss

Lewandowski’s penalty miss in the 76th minute was the game’s single most significant swing. A converted spot-kick would have kept Barcelona within reach; instead, the miss compounded Barca’s structural problems and allowed Sevilla to reassert control.

José Ángel Carmona & Akor Adams — late executioners

Carmona’s late finish and Akor Adams’ goal were clinical examples of Sevilla finishing opportunities when Barcelona left gaps. Both players capitalized on mistakes and exhaustion, turning a tight contest into a rout.

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Tactical analysis — how Sevilla won and Barça lost

Sevilla’s blueprint

1. Exploit transitions: Matías Almeyda’s side absorbed early pressure, then broke quickly through well-timed runs — Romero’s goal was textbook counter-transition football.
2. Varied attacking triggers: Sevilla used Sánchez’s experience to draw attention, then fed younger runners into the channels; that combination disturbed Barcelona’s marking. (Sportsgambler)
3. Defensive compactness: By keeping lines tight and forcing Barcelona wide, Sevilla limited the effectiveness of Barca’s central creators and turned balls into chances rather than fluid build-up.

Barcelona’s failings

1. Injury-driven rotation: Flick’s side were noticeably missing key players; depth was tested and cohesion suffered. The midfield lacked the pressing balance that usually recycles possession into high-value chances. (Barca Blaugranes)
2. Poor defensive focus: Conceding two goals inside the first 36 minutes exposed communications lapses in Barça’s backline and midfield cover. (SI)
3. Psychological collapse after missed penalty: Lewandowski’s miss was both a tactical and psychological blow — the team never found control again. That moment crystallized Barca’s inability to respond under pressure.

Statistical snapshot & match metrics

(Selected match stats — for full boxscore and granular metrics see ESPN and official LaLiga match centre.)

• Score: Sevilla 4–1 Barcelona.
• First-half dominance: Sevilla scored twice in the first 36 minutes; Barça pulled one back before half.
• Penalty events: Sánchez penalty (awarded after VAR), Lewandowski missed penalty (76′).
• Standings effect: Sevilla provisionally moved up to fourth with 13 points from eight matches; Barcelona remained second with 19 points.

For xG, pass-completion heat maps and expected goal chains, consult ESPN’s match report and FotMob/SofaScore live stats.

Reactions & quotes — what managers and players said

• Matías Almeyda (Sevilla): Reporters noted Almeyda’s pride in his team’s intensity and clinical finishing; the manager highlighted his players’ discipline and the plan to punish Barca on transitions. (Post-match quotes available via club and wire reports.) (VAVEL.com – Live Sports)
• Hansi Flick (Barcelona): Flick admitted Barcelona were below their required standards, praised Sevilla’s performance and stressed the need for reflection during the international break. Barcelona players echoed the call for introspection and improvement.

(For verbatim post-match quotes, see Reuters, The Guardian and ESPN match reports.)

 

Where to watch Sevilla vs Barcelona — live & highlights (dónde mirar / a qué hora juega el Barcelona)

If you missed the game: condensed highlights and full match coverage are available on official broadcasters and streaming partners.

• Spain: Movistar+ / DAZN (rights vary by season) — check local schedules for “Sevilla vs Barcelona” or “Sevilla FC contra FC Barcelona”.
• UK/Ireland: TNT Sports / Viaplay often carry LaLiga fixtures.
• USA: ESPN and ESPN+ provide LaLiga coverage and highlights; full match report and clips are on ESPN.com. (ESPN.com)
• Latin America & rest of world: Claro Sports, Star+, or local LaLiga partners depending on market. Use the official LaLiga schedule to find “a qué hora juega el Barcelona” and local broadcast windows. (SI)

Where to find highlights: LaLiga’s official YouTube, club channels (Sevilla FC, Barça), ESPN, The Guardian and Vavel posted condensed goals and tactical clips shortly after full-time. (VAVEL.com – Live Sports)

Tactical takeaways & what comes next

For Sevilla

• Confidence boost: A 4–1 win over the champions is a marquee result that galvanizes players and fans; Sevilla will look to consolidate and stay in the top-four race.
• Maintain transition strengths: Almeyda should keep the counterattack patterns that worked, but also shore up set-piece defending as stronger opponents exploit aerial threats. (Sportsgambler)

For Barcelona

• Rebuild during the international break: Injuries and the psychological sting of this loss mean Barcelona must use the pause to recover personnel and work on defensive structure. Flick will focus on discipline, pressing shape, and restoring confidence to Lewandowski and midfield link players. (Barca Blaugranes)
• Rotation & depth questions: Barca’s squad depth will be tested — can the replacements produce the same pressing intensity and positional discipline as the absentees? That’s the central challenge. (Barca Blaugranes)

Historical context — Sevilla vs Barcelona in LaLiga

Sevilla hadn’t beaten Barcelona in the league since 2015, making this victory a landmark result and a break in a decade-long pattern of Catalan dominance at this fixture. Historically, Barca have enjoyed a favorable head-to-head. Sunday’s scoreline therefore represents not just three points but a symbolic turning point for Sevilla’s aspirations. (Reuters)

Fan reaction & social media pulse

Social channels exploded: Sevilla fans celebrated a performance of rare clinical ruthlessness; Barcelona supporters and pundits vented frustration at defensive errors and the missed penalty. Clips of Sánchez’s penalty and Lewandowski’s miss trended, while analysts dissected the VAR call and the tactical collapse on forums and X threads. (Use club accounts and major outlets for curated reactions.) (SPORTbible)