Player Ratings: Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla - 7M sport

Player Ratings: Barcelona 4-0 Sevilla

Posted Sunday, January 17, 2010 by Goal.com

BARCELONA

Valdes: 6 - Might as well have sat in the stands and enjoyed a better view of Barcelona's display. Kept his concentration well enough to deny the visitors on the rare occasion that he was called into action.

Alves: 8 - As always, he was constantly looking to get forward to support the attack and set up Messi's goal with one of many dangerous crosses. Could even have opened the scoring in the first half but only found the side netting.

Puyol: 7 - Threatened in attack on several occasions during the first 45 minutes but was substituted at half time due to injury.

Pique: 6.5 - Had nothing to test him for large portions of the match but was almost caught out by Kone in the second half when the striker beat him and Marquez.

Abidal: 8.5 - Defended well against Navas and made a good block from Kone's shot in the first half. Continued to counter any sort of offensive threat from Sevilla in the second period before playing an excellent ball to set up the final goal of the night.

Xavi: 8.5 - Arguably the best passer of the ball in the world. Played a perfect pass for Pedro's goal and was always looking to spread the ball to the rampaging Dani Alves.

Busquets: 7 - His limited defensive talents were not tested by Sevilla and he was able to cover for Xavi and Iniesta's attacking runs with relative ease.

Iniesta: 8.5 - The ball seemed glued to his foot when he chose to run at the visitors, and he was sublime on the ball all night long.

Messi: 9 - Weaved his spell over the Sevilla defense for the entire night, as he made countless dangerous runs and incisive passes, before wrapping up proceedings with his 100th and 101st goals in the Barcelona shirt.

Ibrahimovic: 6 - Missed a simple chance in the opening five minutes, while he had a number of other opportunities to score. Looked slightly tense in front of goal.

Henry: 7 - Could have opened the scoring in the first half when Palop raced out of his box, but linked well with Abidal and set up a number of chances before being substituted just after the hour.

Substitutes:

Marquez: 6.5 - Looked weak in defense but it was his cross that led to the first goal.

Pedro: 7 - Coolness personified as he deftly chipped over Palop in the 70th minute to put the game beyond Sevilla.

Bojan: N/A - No time to get involved.


SEVILLA

Palop: 7.5 - A high mark to give a keeper who conceded four goals, but he cannot really be personally blamed for any of them. He also made a lot of good saves to keep Sevilla in the game until the latter stages of the match.

Konko: 5 - Didn't know how to deal with the combined threat of Henry and Abidal, as Barcelona created a number of opportunities from the left hand side.

Escude: 5.5 - Reading the game brilliantly to keep the ball away from danger, but undid his good work in the first half when he poked the ball into his own net for the opening goal. Never recovered from that error.

Dragutinovic: 5.5 - He was marking Ibrahimovic well and did a good job in the first half, but went to pieces in the second half as Barcelona cut through time after time.

Navarro: 5 - Couldn't contain Dani Alves at all as the Brazilian had the freedom of the right hand side, while he also struggled to cope with Messi.

Lolo: 5.5 - Uncertain defensively and two of his challenges in the box could have been given as penalties on another night.

Valiente: 4.5 - Nearly tried to swap shirts with Messi in the first half and was booked. Clearly out of his depth and withdrawn at half time.

Stankevicius: 4.5 - He was dropping back almost as a wing back to help Konko against the threat of Abidal and Henry. Lack of understanding with his team-mates showed as he tried to step up for offside when Pedro made his run to score the second goal.

Navas: 5 - Enjoyed a free role behind Kone but after providing an option on the counter attack in the first half, he was conspicuous by his absence later on.

Carlos: 5 - Did nothing to warrant his starting role and was justifiably taken off at half time.

Kone: 6 - Poor first half as his touch let him down on a number of occasions but he was more lively in the second half and troubled Marquez with his movement.

Substitutes:

Capel: 5.5 - Offered a more experienced option on the left hand side but the visitors were so defensive that he had no real impact on the game.

Duscher: 5.5 - He couldn't impose himself on the Barcelona midfield and his short temper was on show again after being booked for a challenge on Busquets.

Adriano: 5 - Had no effect going forwards and did very little to contain the hosts' attacks.

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