First Round Game Against Sevilla Opens Barcelona's Weaknesses

JAKARTA - Barcelona midfielder Pedri said the first half against Sevilla at Raman Sanchez-Pizjuan, on Sunday, October 5, 2025, was terrible.

In that match, the Blaugrana lost 1-4, which was their first defeat in La Liga this season.

The penalty from veteran Alexis Sanchez against his former team and Isaac Romero's goal helped Sevilla lead two goals in 37 minutes. Marcus Rashford then narrowed the gap with a volley just before the break.

Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty in the second half to equalize, before last-minute goals from Jose Angel Carmona and Akor Adams gave Barcelona two straight defeats for the first time since December 2024 after a midweek defeat against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

"The first half was terrible. I think we (never) didn't play as bad as today. We have to be honest with ourselves and critical of ourselves."

"There was no intensity or quality of possession in the first half. We don't know how to penetrate their pressure. We don't know what to do with the ball."

"We have to improve a lot. Coaches (Hansi Flick) and us, the players, are working hard to improve their performance after the break so that this doesn't happen again," Pedri told Barca One after the game.

This defeat left Barcelona, who played without Lamine Yamal and Raphinha in Sevilla, down to second place in the La Liga standings, behind Real Madrid beating Villarreal on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

Despite suffering a second defeat in all events in a week, Flick refused to be too pessimistic, instead praising the team's reaction in the second half.

In addition to Lewandowski's failure from the penalty spot, substitute Roony Bardghji also squandered two golden opportunities. Meanwhile, Eric Garckel's header was cleared from a corner.

"The first half didn't go well for us. They played one on one against us. They were so aggressive that we didn't have a solution to solve it."

"It's really not good. However, in the second half, the reaction was good. I really appreciate what we did, how we played, and it was great to see him," Hansi Flick told a news conference.

Apart from Yamal and Raphinha, the Blaugrana also lost Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Joan Garcia, Gavi, and Fermin Lopez against Sevilla.

The international break gave them a chance to restore the fitness of some players, with Flick promising a reaction as they return to action in La Liga against Girona on October 18, 2025.

"The most important thing is reaction and emotion - also in the dressing room - what I see. It's important for us to keep it."

"When we start again after the break, we will fight. We will fight for every title, for the Champions League, Copa (del Rey), Supercopa, and of course La Liga. This is what we want."

"I think we are a good team. The players will come back, so we will continue to fight. This is positive and we are working hard. This is what we have to do," said Flick.