Saudi FM calls Indian, Pakistani counterparts to discuss developments    Al Hilal thrash Gwangju to reach AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Saudi Arabia cracks down on fraudulent Hajj campaigns, urges pilgrims to use official channels    Nammos Amala Resort to open soon with Saudi-Greek designs    Saudi Arabia completes 674 Vision 2030 initiatives, achieves 93% of KPIs as ninth-year milestone marked    Literature Commission inaugurates Saudi Pavilion at Muscat Book Fair    Saudi Minister of Culture holds talks with his Costa Rican counterpart in Jeddah    Alkhorayef praises advancements in Al-Kharj food industries sector    MHRSD: 80% of recruitment offices are non-compliant with regulations    At least 50 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza    Teenage girl killed in French school stabbing attack    Trump claims meeting with China after Beijing denies any trade negotiations    GACA chief chairs 16th meeting of the Steering Committee on aviation's strategy    Saudi Theater Commission launches its Work and Learn Project in UK    The season has begun — and one comment shook us all    Jennifer Lopez dazzles in Jeddah with a Formula 1 performance    Saudi Arabia open to expanded 64-team World Cup in 2034, says sports minister    Average life expectancy in Saudi Arabia rises to78.8 years    Film Commission launches 'Cinema' initiative to enhance content    Famed Philippine film star Nora Aunor dies at 71    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Sevilla stun holders Barca 2-0 in Copa del Rey
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 24 - 01 - 2019

Sevilla produced a brilliant second-half display to beat Barcelona 2-0 in their Copa del Rey quarterfinal, first leg on Wednesday, leaving the holders with an uphill task to reach the last four.
After an even first 45 minutes, strikes from Pablo Sarabia and Wissam Ben Yedder stunned the Catalans and left them needing a second-leg comeback at the Nou Camp for the second consecutive round in the competition.
A much-changed Barca, who earlier in the day announced the signing of Frenkie de Jong from Ajax Amsterdam, handed a debut to loan signing Kevin-Prince Boateng.
Yet star forward Lionel Messi was left at home while forward Luis Suarez and club-record signing Philippe Coutinho were only named on the bench as they struggled.
"We were in the game in the first half and there were chances, but they pressured us more after the break," said Barca coach Ernesto Valverde, who said he had "no regrets" over resting Messi.
"When you make changes, you take risks. If you win, then it's all good. If not, then it isn't.
"Last season we paid the price for going far in the cup and this year we're rotating more because we think it's the best thing to do. We want to keep our lead at the top of the league and use our squad members to help us."
Unsurprisingly it was Sevilla — spurred on by a raucous home crowd — who looked the more threatening throughout.
The Andalusian side were incensed when a Video Assistant Referee review deemed Barca's Arturo Vidal had not handled Ever Banega's cross after half an hour, with replays indicating the ball had struck the upper part of the Chilean's arm.
A persistent threat throughout, Ben Yedder fired narrowly wide after a mesmeric solo run, before being denied by a smart save from Barca keeper Jasper Cillessen.
At the other end, Malcom fired wide after rounding Sevilla keeper Juan Soriano against the run of play on the stroke of halftime.
It was all Sevilla after the break, and Pablo Machin's side took a deserved lead just before the hour. Quincy Promes drove down the left before crossing for Sarabia, who fired in a half-volley from six meters out.
French forward Ben Yedder then doubled their lead from close range with quarter of an hour to go.
He celebrated by lifting his shirt to reveal the message "For my brother Sala", in reference to Argentine striker Emiliano Sala, who is currently missing after the plane he was travelling on disappeared over the English channel.
The second leg takes place next Wednesday, while Espanyol take on Real Betis and Real Madrid host Girona on Thursday in the remaining quarterfinal, first legs after Getafe defeated Valencia 1-0 on Tuesday. — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.