Barcelona 0 - Sevilla 3

Barcelona: Bonano; Puyol (Mendieta 58'), Christanval, Frank De Boer, Fernando Navarro (Gabri 64'); Xavi, Motta; Dani (Saviola 61'), Riquelme, Overmars; Kluivert. 4-3-1-2.
Sevilla: Notario; Redondo, Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Torrado, Casquero (Samways 64'); Marcos Vales, Reyes (Víctor Salas 84'), Fredi; Antoñito (Toedtli 72'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Christanval, Motta, Dani, Overmars for Gabri, Rochemback, Cocu, Saviola / Sevilla: Torrado for Samways.

Goals:
0-1. 05. Casquero (penalty). After Christanval pulled back Reyes on edge of area.
0-2. 77. Toedtli. Headed over Bonano after long clearance by Notario.
0-3. 89. Toedtli. Ran on to Marcos Vales cross from the right to turn ball into net.

A scandalous result at the Nou camp, where Barcelona were beaten 0-3 by a Sevilla side who had not won away all season and who started the day in the relegation spots. Opposition groups collected signatures for a vote of no confidence in president Joan Gaspart's management before the match, and they were reinforced by the team's poor performance on the night.

The visitors had only scored twice away from home all season, but they took the lead in the fifth minute when referee Losantos Omar ruled that a pull by Christanval on Reyes was a penalty, even though the foul appeared to take place just outside the area. Casquero scored from the spot, and although Kluivert hit the post soon afterwards, Barça could not find a way past Notario.

Bonano saved the day later in the first half when Antoñito got behind the Barça defence, and Riquelme tried a couple of long shots to no avail. After the break Van Gaal was dealt another blow, with Puyol having to leave the field injured and then Fernando Navarro being carried off with what looked like a very serious knee injury. Saviola came on and thought he should have had a penalty when Redondo wrestled him down, and Losantos also turned down another appeal when Alfaro held back Frank De Boer in the area.

But then De Boer failed to connect with a long Notario clearance, and substitute Toedtli sent a looping header over the advancing Bonano for a second goal. When the Argentine striker scored again in the last minute the white handkerchiefs came out, and Gaspart stood stoically at the end as the fans chanted for his head. With board members resigning en masse, the president may well have to sacrifice his manager if he does not get a good result against Mallorca next weekend to save his own head. An interesting week is in the offing.