Central defender Sergio Ramos’s own goal helped Barca win 1-0 against Sevilla in the earliest match of round eight of La Liga to temporarily rise to the top.

In the 76th minute, Ferran Torres hung the ball to the far post for 16-year-old Lamine Yamal to head the pass towards Fermin Lopez. Ramos couldn’t react in time, letting the ball hit his foot and change direction toward the goal and into the net. The Spanish midfielder then raised his hands, seemingly blaming goalkeeper Orjan Nyland for slow reflexes and not having time to save.

This is Ramos’ third own goal in La Liga, with the first two goals being in a Real shirt against Sevilla. Specifically, the 37-year-old midfielder scored an own goal in the 2-3 loss in May 2018 and the 1-2 loss in January 2017.Before yesterday’s match, Ramos had met Barca 47 times in all competitions, scoring five and assisting three goals, winning 15 matches, drawing 10 and losing 22. Among them, he played 45 El Clasico matches for Real, equal to Lionel Messi and just shy of Sergio Busquets’ record of 48 matches.

Ramos grew up in the Sevilla training academy, but only played one season in 2004-2005 for the first team. He moved to Real in 2005, played 671 matches, scored 101 goals, won five La Liga, two King’s Cups and four Champions Leagues. Ramos went to France to play for PSG from July 2021 to June 2023, playing 58 matches, scoring six goals, winning two Ligue 1 and one French Super Cup. Last summer, the Spanish midfielder became a free agent after not being renewed by PSG. Before returning to Sevilla on a short-term contract, Ramos rejected a number of attractive offers from Man Utd and Saudi Arabia.

At Montjuic Stadium – Barca’s home stadium this season while waiting for the new Camp Nou stadium to be built, in the context of Frenkie de Jong and Pedri both being absent due to injury, coach Xavi pulled Raphinha to play in midfield with Gavi and Ilkay Gundogan. The attack is a combination of the trio Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Joao Felix. But in the 37th minute, Raphinha had a problem and gave way to Fermin Lopez.

Without the strongest force, Barca still controlled the ball 58%, finished 18 times with five hits – compared to Sevilla’s 12 and 3, and created countless opportunities. A typical example is the situation where Joao Cancelo passed four Sevilla players and then released the ball for compatriot Felix to hit the bar in the 22nd minute. In the 39th minute, it was Lopez’s turn to have a chance in the penalty area, but his left-footed finish was blocked by the goalkeeper. Orjan Nyland caught it.

In the second half, Barca maintained great pressure before Ramos scored an own goal. The home team would have had a bigger victory if Torres and Lewandowski had taken advantage of the opportunity to finish in the penalty area in injury time.

However, 1-0 was enough for Barca to maintain their unbeaten streak and rise to the top of the table with 20 points, one point ahead of Girona and two points ahead of Real. Meanwhile, Sevilla is stuck in 12th place with seven points.

In the middle of next week, Barca will be a guest of Porto in round two of Group H, while Sevilla will travel to PSV’s field for round two of Group B of the Champions League.