Barcelona held
> Sevilla go top of La Liga
SEVILLA are the surprise leaders in La Liga after Lionel Messi could only rescue a draw for Barcelona away to Valencia yesterday.
Barca started the day at the top of the pile and then Atletico Madrid enjoyed a couple of hours at the summit after edging past Real Betis at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Sevilla, however, usurped them both by beating 10-man Celta Vigo and Barca were unable to reclaim the lead in the late kickoff, held by Valencia to a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla.
It means Ernesto Valverde’s side are a point behind Sevilla and without a league victory now in four matches, a dip that comes in stark contrast to their enthralling triumph over Tottenham in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Messi, mesmeric at Wembley, was on target again, his driven shot into the corner cancelling out a bizarre opener for Valencia, scored after just 78 seconds.
Ezequiel Garay claimed the final touch but Daniel Parejo’s corner had been flicked on by Geoffrey Kondogbia, missed by Thomas Vermaelen and skimmed through off Gerard Pique’s back.
Philippe Coutinho should have won it for Barcelona in the second half but took too long to pull the trigger and Jose Gaya was able to make the block.
“When we don’t win we always think of it as two points lost,” Valverde said.
“After Leo’s goal, we tried everything but they defended well and we couldn’t get the goal we wanted.”
For Valencia, now unbeaten in six, this was another step in the right direction, even if they are finding it difficult to turn draws into wins. They move up to 14th.
“Leaving Barca for 90 minutes practically without a chance means that we have worked very well,” Valencia coach Marcelino said.
Atletico and Sevilla’s success also pushed struggling Real Madrid down to fourth. Julen Lopetegui’s side endured a shock defeat away by Alaves on Saturday.
For all the talk of crisis at the top two clubs, however, this was Sevilla’s day.
Pablo Sarabia headed in to open the scoring at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan before Celta defender Nestor Araujo was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in as many minutes.
Wissam Ben Yedder doubled the lead and while substitute Sofiane Boufal pulled one back for Celta, it proved too little to late. The victory is Sevilla’s fourth on the bounce in the league.
“At the the moment we are playing with a lot of confidence. We are showing we can be consistent,” Ben Yedder said.
Atletico had earlier continued their own strong run after Angel Correa’s goal proved decisive in an untidy 1-0 win over Real Betis.
Atletico sat seven points behind Real and Barca after winning only one of their opening four league games but as their rivals have stumbled, Diego Simeone’s side have sprung into form.
“We look at everything quietly and continue to improve. We have grown,” Simeone said.
Simeone can take some of the credit too for the latest victory, after throwing on both Correa and Thomas Partey as substitutes in the second half. Thomas provided the assist.
“When the players respond, the coaches look better. The teams that challenge up the top of the table are there because of the players they can bring off the bench,” Simeone said. – AFP