Sevilla beat defending champion Barcelona 2-1 in the Copa del Rey
round of 16 on Tuesday.
Sevilla went ahead in Barcelona's Camp Nou in the 61st minute
when Diego Perotti dribbled past Daniel Alves and crossed, and
Renato tapped the ball on for Diego Capel to smash home.
Barcelona equalized through substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic in
a 75th-minute counterattack, but Alvaro Negredo scored from the
penalty spot after Diego Capel was brought down in the area.
Negredo dedicated the winning goal to teammate Sergio Sanchez,
whose playing future was in doubt after news of his heart
condition.
"These games are good to show that we're here, that we're not
just 11 players, that we have 24 players who will give everything
and we dedicate the victory to the fans and above all to Sergio,"
said Negredo.
Both teams had absences due to the African Cup of Nations,
with Barcelona missing Seydou Keita and Toure Yaya and Sevilla
without Frederic Kanoute.
However, Lionel Messi returned for Barcelona after an
extended Christmas break and he led the attack alongside Bojan
Krkic and Pedro Rodriguez.
Early on, Barcelona looked fresher than during Saturday's 1-1
draw against Villarreal and hoarded possession.
In the 10th, Messi dribbled across the back of the area
before unleashing a left-footed shot that Andres Palop just turned
round the post.
In the 21st Palop failed to hold onto a long-range free kick
by Daniel Alves but Rafael Marquez could not reach the rebound.
Seconds later Messi curled a shot toward goal from an almost
impossible angle, striking the crossbar.
Having soaked up Barcelona's attacks for half an hour,
Sevilla nearly went ahead against the run of play, although when
Capel was put through to score his goal was ruled out for offside.
Straight after the break Abdoulay Konko fed halftime
replacement Renato in the area and Pinto did well to save his shot.
Barcelona substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, scored his
first goal in the competition.
The return leg will be next week.
On Wednesday it's Celta Vigo vs. Villarreal; Valencia vs.
Deportivo La Coruna; Alcorcon vs. Racing Santander; and Recreativo
Huelva vs. Atletico Madrid. On Thursday it's Hercules vs. Osasuna;
Rayo Vallecano vs. Mallorca; and Malaga vs. Getafe.
