Barcelona beaten at Sevilla as injuries take toll

Barcelona suffered their second league defeat of the season as they fell to a 2-1 defeat away to Sevilla.

Playing their first La Liga match without the injured Lionel Messi, Luis Enrique’s side found themselves two goals behind in the space of six minutes early in the second half through goals from Michael Krohn Dehli and Vicente Iborra.

Neymar pulled one back from the spot after the referee awarded a rather dubious penalty with 16 minutes left. However, the visitors could not equalise despite the lifeline.

Sandro and Luis Suarez hit the woodwork, while a Neymar effort hit the post twice, rolled along the goal-line and somehow did not go in.

Luis Enrique’s side – who have now lost two successive games on their travels in La Liga – remain in third, a point behind leaders Villareal.

It is a second consecutive league victory for Sevilla, whose boss Unai Emery finally celebrated his first victory over Barcelona in 22 previous attempts as a coach.

12’ - WIDE! The resulting free-kick almost provides the host with a goal. Andreolli meets a cross from Krohn-Dehli but the Italian can't get his header on target.

20’ - CHANCE! Gameiro collects a wonderful pass from Krohn-Dehli, the striker takes the ball past Bravo into a wide position and the goalkeeper then makes a good stop to prevent the goal.

23’ - CLOSE! Neymar takes the resulting free-kick which curls around the wall and strikes the post, rolls across the line before the danger is hacked away. Somehow the hosts survive.

37’ - CROSSBAR! Suarez tries his luck from the edge of the penalty area with a curled effort but he is denied by the crossbar!

52’ - GOAL - Sevilla 1-0 Barcelona! The hosts have the lead! The unmarked Krohn-Dehli meets a low cross from Gamiero at the back post and he makes no mistake.

58’ - GOAL - Sevilla 2-0 Barcelona! Iborra doubles the home side's advantage with a delightful header from a great Krohn-Dehli cross. Unbelievable scenes at the Sánchez Pizjuán.

63’ - WONDERFUL SAVE! Neymar cuts in from a wide position and hammers a shot at goal but Rico does brilliantly to parry the ball away from goal.

73’ - PENALTY TO BARCA! Tremoulinas is adjudged to have handled Sandro's shot in the penalty area and the visitors have a lifeline!

74’ - GOAL - Sevilla 2-1 Barcelona! Neymar sneaks the ball into the corner of the net beyond the reach of Rico.

78’ - POST! Suarez finds himself in space behind the defensive line and he plays a square pass across the face of goal which Sandro meets and his effort smashes off the post. What a chance to level the scores.

Barcelona conceded 21 goals in 38 La Liga games last season. They have already conceded nine after seven games this season.

Barcelona haven't scored in six of their seven league games this season at the half time (they only scored vs Las Palmas).

No Messi, big problems – Luis Suarez helped to rescue Barcelona in mid-week in their lacklustre 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. However, they were found wanting on this occasion, even after the referee handed them a huge lifeline when he awarded a penalty with just less than 20 minutes to play. Barca were far from convincing before Messi received an injury. Now, they’re just simply unconvincing. Suarez can’t do it all on his own and needs the likes of team mate Neymar to step up.

Michael Krohn-Dehli (Sevilla) – The 32-year-old opened the scoring and minutes later provided a deadly cross for Iborra to double the advantage.

SEVILLA: Rico 8; Coke 7, Andreolli 7, Kolo 6, Tremoulinas 7; Krychowiak 7, N'Zonzi 6; Krohn-Dehli 8, Iborra 7, Vitolo 7; Gameiro 7. Reyes 5, Llorente, Mariano 6.

BARCA: Bravo 7; Roberto 6, Pique 7, Mathieu 6, Alba 6; Rakitic 6, Busquets 6, Mascherano 6; Munir 5, Suarez 6, Neymar 5 . Subs: Alves 5, Sandro 6.