For the second week running Spanish international Xavi came to Barcelona’s rescue scoring a 75th minute equaliser to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw.
Salvages a point for the Catalonians in their 1-1 draw away at Sevilla
MADRID: For the second week running Spanish international Xavi came to Barcelona’s rescue scoring a 75th minute equaliser to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at ten-man Sevilla on Saturday.
Barcelona are now five points behind leaders Real Madrid although the champions have the chance to move eight points clear when they host Valladolid on Sunday.
Barca looked to be heading for defeat after 19-year-old Diego Capel had put Sevilla ahead in the first half but Xavi, who scored a late winner against Osasuna last weekend, levelled to snatch a draw.
Sevilla, who were reduced to ten men late on when Seydou Keita was sent off, stay seventh and will rue the missed chance to bolster their European push and enact revenge for last month’s Kings Cup to Barcelona.
Barcelona were without Carles Puyol, Deco, Yaya Toure, Samuel Eto’o, Bojan Krkic and Gianluca Zambrotta so coach Frank Rijkaard brought in Mexican striker Giovanni Dos Santos, Oleguer and Edmilson in for rare starts.
Sevilla welcomed back Keita and Freddy Kanoute into the starting line-up after the duo’s return following Mali’s elimination from the African Cup of Nations.
Brazilian Daniel Alves also started after having a suspension lifted and almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes with his fierce free-kick punched away by Victor Valdes.
The game was played at an incredible tempo with two of the most attacking teams in the league both going for the jugular. However, Sevilla always looked the more likely to score and on 34 minutes Capel arrived late to steer in a Jesus Navas cross for his first goal of the season.
Ronaldinho came on at the beginning of the second half for Edmilson as Rijkaard pushed for an equaliser. It came from Xavi with a quarter hour remaining with the midfielder drilling a low shot through the hapless Palop who should have done better.
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