Match Report: Saturday 13/05/2006 22:00 (GMT+2): La Liga match day 34
Sevilla CF 3 - FC Barcelona 2

Sánchez Pizjuan, Sevilla – attendance: 33.800


Referee: Texeira Vitienes



1 - 0 (Alves '23)

2 - 0 (Aitor Ocio '26 - penalty)
2 - 1 (Ezquerro '41)

2 - 2 (Sylvinho '43)
3 - 2 (Renato '53)




FC Barcelona (4-3-3): Jorquera – Belletti , Oleguer, Rodri, Sylvinho – Xavi, Motta, Gabri – Larsson , Maxi, Ezquerro - Manager: Frank Rijkaard






Sevilla(4-4-2): Palop - Aitor Ozio, Dragutinovic, Daniel Alves, Javi Navarro - Adriano, Diego Capel, J. Navas, Jesuli - Kanouté, Kepa - Manager: Juande Ramos


Match Report:


FC Barcelona "Reserve Team" lost 3-2 against Sevilla CF at the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium but the Barca players performance who made up Frank Rijkaard's "Second" team left a good impression to demonstrate the strength in depth of the Barca squad.

The Barca players involved certainly made an effort and gave their best. Maxi did well on his full league debut and reserve team players Ludovic and Montañés can be satisfied with their first appearances as substitutes. The best news of the evening was Xavi Hernandez's return to full fitness and first full game since his comeback from injury.

The match itself wasn´t important but the Barcelona team left a good impression in Sevilla to demonstrate the strength in depth of Frank Rijkaard's Barca squad.


FC Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard was not going to risk his first-choice players only four days before the Champions league final against Arsenal in Paris and left eight regular Barca players at home.
Daniel Alaves and Aitor Ocio (penalty) gave Sevilla a two goal lead within the opening 24 minutes, but FC Barcelona were level at half time as Santiago Ezquerro and Sylvinho both scored within one minute but Sevilla's Kepa Blanco headed the winner in the 75th minute for the home side.

Barca´s Gabri was sent off in the final seconds of his last match in a Barça shirt.


Worth to mention:
The game started in unusual fashion with Barca applauding their opponents onto the pitch following their emphatic UEFA Cup victory on Wednesday and then Sevilla doing the same to congratulate FC Barcelona on winning the league. The fans in the Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium exploded in delight before the game had even kicked off.


As predicted in our preview, the game was entertaining right from the start. 4 goals in the fist half put the crowd into party mood. The Barca reserve players gave their best and showed a convincing performance. They gave everything to make life for the UEFA Cup winners who desperately needed to win to keep their Champions League hopes in the last match of the season alive. After the 3-2 feat to Sevilla Maxi, Ezquerro & Co. can still keep their heads up.



Now we concentrate on the "Big Final" against opponents Arsenal in Paris next Wednesday!