All Bar�a�s football

Match

Marcador del partit

Date: Wednesday, 09 Jan
Competition: ???label.competicio2???
Stadium: Ram�n S�nchez Pizju�n, Sevilla

Resultat:

Sevilla FC: 1
FC Barcelona: 1

Match report

Match Report
Pre-Match

Match Report

THE GOALS

0-1, Henry (min 24)
1-1, Capel (min 43)

Honours even in Seville (1-1)

Roger Boguny�

Sevilla and Barcelona ended the first leg of their Copa del Rye tie with honours even in the Ram�n S�nchez Pizju�n after Thierry Henry had put the visitors ahead and Diego Capel levelled for the hosts.

The opening encounter between the two sides did not solve anything, but Bar�a may feel that they now have the advantage ahead of the second game in seven days time in Camp Nou. In an intense match, the referee handed out eight yellow card, five going to Bar�a, while there were plenty of chances for either side to gain the upper hand.

After both goals came before the break, the second half saw both teams search for a winner on the night only for Ernesto Chevan�ton to hit the bar at one end and Edm�lson strike the post at the other.

Henry breaks the deadlock

In the opening minutes the referee's whistle was a familiar sound as the tackles went in from the start. While the pace of the game heated up, it was Bar�a that had the first clear chance of the match as Giovani Dos Santos fired just wide of Morgan De Sanctis' near post from ten yards out.

Bar�a continued to attack and in the 24th minute made the breakthrough as Thierry Henry netted a trademark goal. Rafa M�rquez lifted a pass over the Sevilla defence and the Frenchman took one touch to control the ball and a second to slide it perfectly past the keeper and into the back of the net before wheeling away to celebrate.

The equaliser

Sevilla won the cup last season and were not prepared to give it up easily as the goal conceded appeared to spur them on and they raced forward in search of an equaliser. Five minutes before half-time Daniel Alves took aim from long range and saw his free-kick tipped over the bar by Valdes.

From the resulting corner the majority of players went to the near post and Diego Capel was able to stay back and meet the ball 12 yards from goal. The young full-back had time to take the ball down before firing it past Vald�s and speeding off to celebrate.

Denied by the woodwork

After the break, the rhythm of the game changed little although Sevilla appeared to have an extra spring in their step and Chevant�n went close as he met Alves' cross only to head against the crossbar. Luis Fabiano then produced a fine save from Vald�s with a curling free-kick on the hour mark. At the other end Bar�a showed that they were still looking for a second goal too as Edm�lson sped onto the ball before sending a low shot against the far post from nearly 30 yards out.

Evenly balanced

Neither side were able to score again before the end as Giovani shot over from the corner of the area before Chevant�n nodded wide of the goal in the closing minutes. The tie is finely balanced ahead of next week's second leg in Camp Nou.

Preview

Previous meetings

Frank Rijkaard has a good record against Sevilla since he took the reins at Camp Nou. In the ten games that the Dutch coach has overseen since 2003, Bar�a have won six, drawn once and lost three times.

The Blaugrana also have the edge in previous meetings in the cup as the two sides have met ten times in the competition in the past and on seven occasions Barcelona have progressed to the next round. The only time the two sides have met since the tournament took on the name of the Copa del Rey, came in the 1990/91 season when Johan Cruyff's side won 7-0 on aggregate.

Cup of cheer

Vanessa Forns

FC Barcelona take on Sevilla in the first leg of their Copa del Rey tie in the Ram�n S�nchez Pizju�n on Wednesday evening in an all-first division encounter of the highest level.

After starting the New Year with a league win against Real Mallorca at the weekend, Frank Rijkaard's side return to action as they meet the cup holders 22:00 CET, Bar�a TV and Bar�a Radio. The Blaugrana reached this stage after overcoming third tier outfit Alcoyano in the last round of the competition, but will have some very different things to consider as they meet Sevilla, who came from behind to beat Denia.

With the second leg at home, Bar�a will head south hoping to earn a result that will give them even more of an advantage when the two teams meet again in Camp Nou next week.

Deco and Ronaldinho out

Ronaldinho, Deco and Tour� Yaya are all absent from the squad that Rijkaard named on Tuesday. In Deco's case, it was decided by the club's medical team that he was not ready to return to action as he is still suffering from an injury in his left leg. Ronaldinho is also carrying a knock as he continues to have problems with his left knee and is continuing with a specific rehabilitation programme and having physiotherapy in a bid to return to training on Thursday.

Tour� flies off

Tour� is unavailable after the defensive midfielder left to join up with his Ivory Coast teammates as they prepare to play in the African Cup of Nations later this month. Excluding Deco and Tour�, the Bar�a squad for the trip to Sevilla is the same one that travelled to Mallorca at the weekend and came away with a 2-0 win. There was some good news for Rijkaard as Edm�lson is back to full fitness after spending six months out with a knee injury, while Thierry Henry is also returning to form having missed the last few games before the festive period.

Sevilla back on track

The start of Sevilla's season was marked by the tragic death of young defender Antonio Puerta and the departure of coach Juande Ramos, but the team are now recovering their best form. Manolo Jim�nez replaced Ramos in October and his team have not tasted defeat since December 1, when they were beaten 1-0 by Almer�a. Since then, the Andalucian outfit have embarked on a seven-match unbeaten run and enjoyed an impressive victory last weekend when they won the local derby against neighbours Real Betis.

No Kanout�, Keita or Kone

Jim�nez will be without several key players for the visit of Bar�a as Fr�d�ric Kanout� and Seydou Keita have jetted off to join the Mali squad ahead of the African Cup of Nations and Arouna Kon� has begun preparations with the Ivory Coasy. Along with that trio, Andr�s Palop and Javi Navarro are still out with long-term injuries, while Julien Escud�, Mart� and Duda have all been rested.

While Kanout� maybe missing from Sevilla's front line, Bar�a will have to watch the flanks as Daniel Alves and Jes�s Navas are very quick down the right, while Adriano and Diego Capel look to cause problems down the left.