Sevilla,Oct. 6(HS): Sevilla delivered a commanding 4-1 victory over reigning champions Barcelona on Sunday, ending their unbeaten run and stalling their charge back to the top of the La Liga table. This marked Sevilla’s first league win over Barcelona since 2015, temporarily lifting them to fourth place with 13 points from eight matches.

Barcelona remained second with 19 points, two behind leaders Real Madrid.Barcelona started sluggishly, failing to register a shot on target in the first half hour, while Sevilla probed early with long balls to Alexis Sánchez.

The breakthrough came in the 13th minute when Isaac Romero was fouled by Ronald Araújo, earning Sevilla a penalty which Sánchez converted by sending former Arsenal teammate Wojciech Szczęsny the wrong way.Sevilla threatened to double the lead several times, with Szczęsny making a key save in the 27th minute, but Romero scored again in the 37th minute from a superb Ruben Vargas cross, making it 2-0.

Just before halftime, Marcus Rashford pulled one back for Barcelona with a precise left-foot finish from Pedri’s lofted pass.Barcelona intensified pressure in the second half and earned a penalty in the 76th minute after Adnan Januzaj was fouled in the box, but Robert Lewandowski’s spot-kick sailed wide.

Sevilla sealed the win late as Carmona’s low shot slipped between defenders in the 90th minute to make it 3-1, before substitute Ekow Adams added a fourth in injury time from Chidera Ejuke’s pass.

Sevilla, now victorious in two successive matches, will face Mallorca after the international break on October 18, while Barcelona will take on Girona the same day.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar