Three things we learned from Barca 4-0 Sevilla

Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images

The champions cruised to victory at the Camp Nou

Messi off the mark to continue crazy Sevilla record

Lionel Messi absolutely loves playing Sevilla and with a record of 36 goals in 37 appearances going into the match it always seemed likely he’d score.

The Barcelona captain went close with a couple of free-kicks, tested goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík with a shot after a brilliant run before eventually grabbing his goal on 78 minutes.

It was another super free-kick from the GOAT too, which Sevilla tried their best to defend with a four-man wall, Munir lying behind it and a goalkeeper and a defender on the line.

Yet despite all that, Messi’s effort still sailed over the wall and past the goalkeeper to secure another landmark for the Barca skipper.

100 - Lionel Messi has scored his 100th goal from outside the box for @FCBarcelona in all competitions (43 direct free-kick goals). Specialist. pic.twitter.com/iBAi9hYVVn

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 6, 2019

Messi’s first goal of the season also means he is the first player to score in 16 seasons in a row in La Liga in the 21st century, according to Opta.

Sevilla can be forgiven for being sick of the sight of Messi, while Barca will welcome the return of their captain’s name to the scoresheet after 134 days.

Barcelona are unbeatable with Vidal

Arturo Vidal was rewarded for his performance against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek with his first start of the season against Sevilla.

The midfielder repaid Ernesto Valverde for his faith too, nudging in Barcelona’s second goal from Arthur’s cross after 32 minutes to put the hosts in complete control.

It was a decent goal too with every Barca player touching the ball in the build-up:

⏰ 85 seconds
11 players
25 passes

⬇⬇⬇

⚽ Goal by @kingarturo23! pic.twitter.com/5lzRh1td8o

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 6, 2019

Vidal’s goal helped Barcelona complete a 4-0 win over Sevilla and means the Catalan giants remain unbeaten in La Liga when the Chilean is in the starting XI.

The 32-year-old has now started 23 league games for Barcelona, winning 15, drawing eight and losing exactly zero.

Semedo can do a job at left-back

Photo by Eric Alonso/MB Media/Getty Images

Injuries to Jordi Alba and Junior Firpo meant that Nelson Semedo was once again forced to swap flanks and feature as Barca’s left-back.

It is a job the Portugal international has undertaken a few times now, but this was by far his best performance in the role for Barca.

He set up Luis Suarez for a brilliant bicycle kick to open the scoring and also played a role in the second goal as Barca took the game away from Sevilla after a bright opening.

It was a tenacious performance from Semedo, who was dangerous going forwards throughout the match and showed he can do a job at left-back when required.

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