Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos‘s own goal handed his old enemy Barcelona a narrow 1-0 win over Sevilla on Friday in La Liga, taking the Catalans top of the table. Veteran centre-back Ramos deflected Lamine Yamal‘s header into his own net in the 76th minute to break the deadlock in a tight clash. The 37-year-old said this week he had planned a special goal celebration if he scored against Barca after his summer return to Spain from Paris Saint-Germain, but putting through his own net was not part of the plan.
“Ramos is a spectacular defender, today he had the misfortune of scoring an own goal but he had a good game,” Barcelona coach Xavi told reporters.
“It was unlucky for him but for us it was good.”
He continued: “Sergio grows in these atmospheres, it’s an unfortunate goal, it hits him and bounces in.”
Barcelona’s victory helped the Catalans overtake Girona at the top of the table, with their neighbours hosting third-place Real Madrid on Saturday.
Xavi’s side were leapfrogged by Girona and Madrid after they drew at Mallorca on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow I have a birthday party, I can’t watch the game, imagine that. I’ll follow it but I can’t watch, it’s a pity – may the best team win,” said Xavi.
“The only thing that we can control was today, we feel good about it, we deserved more goals and we had a great game against a great team.”
Before the game Sevilla caused a stir by announcing their directors would not attend the traditional lunch or sit in the presidential box in protest at Barcelona’s involvement in the refereeing corruption scandal.
The Catalan club and some of their former directors were charged with bribery on Thursday.
Xavi started winger Raphinha in attacking midfield with Lamine Yamal on the flank, looking for more dynamism behind striker Robert Lewandowski.
Joao Felix crashed a shot off the crossbar after a fine run by Joao Cancelo as Barcelona made the early running, but Sevilla were sharp on the counter-attack.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen clawed away an effort from former Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic and a shot by Dodi Lukebakio, while Gavi superbly blocked with his chest to foil Lucas Ocampos.
Unlikely source
Xavi’s experiment with Raphinha was cut short when the Brazilian went down injured and he was replaced by La Masia graduate Fermin Lopez, who rescued Barcelona at Mallorca with a late strike.
The midfielder was quickly teed up by 16-year-old starlet Yamal but could only manage a soft shot, his one disappointing moment on an otherwise impressive outing.
Gavi’s shot was deflected narrowly over as Barcelona turned the screw in search of the opening goal.
Eventually it came, from an unlikely source, with Ramos inadvertently knocking Yamal’s header back into the danger area past Orjan Nyland.
Ramos’s touches has been greeted by whistles by Barcelona fans for his history in the Spanish capital, which turned to ironic cheers as his own goal was replayed on the big screen at the Olympic Stadium.
At the age of nine Yamal had stood beside Ramos as a Barcelona mascot in 2016 when the centre-back captained Real Madrid in a Clasico.
Until his own goal, Ramos had played well and helped keep Barcelona at bay.
The defender made a fine block to foil Lewandowski in stoppage time, but by then the damage was done.
“In that move Ramos was defending well, he had bad luck,” said Sevilla coach Jose Luis Mendilibar.
“The ball hit him and he didn’t have time to react how he wanted.”
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Real Madrid came from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 and climb back to the top of La Liga on Sunday, maintaining their perfect start to the season. Earlier Sergio Ramos made his second Sevilla debut in a narrow win over Las Palmas, while Mason Greenwood played his first match for Getafe, on loan from Manchester United. After Barcelona put five past Real Betis in a flashy display on Saturday the onus was on Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid side to maintain their 100 percent record and they did, against the tricky Basque visitors.
Propelled by the electric Takefusa Kubo, Real Sociedad took an early lead through Ander Barrenetxea, but Madrid hit back with goals from Fede Valverde and Joselu to earn their fifth win from five games.
England international Jude Bellingham was unable to continue his excellent goalscoring form, after netting five goals in his first four Madrid matches, but remains the division’s top goalscorer.
Madrid start their Champions League campaign on Wednesday at home against Union Berlin, and despite losing Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema in the summer and star player Vinicius Junior to injury, remain a force to be reckoned with.
“We started by letting in a goal and the good thing is that we were capable of turning it around — the bad thing is that we have to avoid that,” said Ancelotti.
“We did it thanks to the commitment, energy and will of the team, we have an intensity that opponents find hard to cope with for 90 minutes.”
The Basque visitors went ahead at the new-look Santiago Bernabeu after only five minutes, when Kubo stroked a fine pass into Barrenetxea’s path.
Kepa Arrizabalaga kept out his first effort with a fine save but could not claw out the second.
Kubo then beat the goalkeeper with a brilliant strike but it was disallowed for offside.
Joselu hit the crossbar with the goal gaping and Alex Remiro denied Dani Carvajal as Madrid found their footing.
Valverde slammed Real Madrid level less than a minute into the second half, lashing Fran Garcia’s cut-back in off the post from outside the area.
The left-back created the second goal too, crossing for target man Joselu to nod the hosts ahead at the back post.
Spain international Joselu was immediately taken off for Eduardo Camavinga, as Ancelotti sought more control of the game.
The Italian got it too, with the visitors effectively shut down, no longer finding spaces between Madrid lines.
“This is the Bernabeu and with our fans we turned it around,” said Joselu.
“We’re doing a bit of everything, we’re confident in ourselves, there’s a lot of quality in the squad and we came from behind again.”
Madrid lead Barcelona by two points, with both of Spain’s giants unbeaten, although the Catalans drew their opening game against Getafe.
Sergio Ramos played for Sevilla for the first time since he left the club in 2005 as they earned their first win of the season over Las Palmas.
The 37-year-old centre-back started in the 1-0 victory at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, following his arrival from Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
Ramos, who left Sevilla for Real Madrid 18 years ago to the ire of many supporters in Andalucia, was cheered on his return.
Belgian winger Dodi Lukebakio sent Sevilla ahead after 71 minutes and with Ramos patrolling, they kept their first clean sheet of the campaign.
“I felt a lot of emotion … it was amazing to find my people again, my home, my fans, it’s unique,” Ramos told Movistar.
The defender admitted some nerves about how fans would treat him after playing at a rival club for so long.
“I had a few doubts at first but the reception I had on my arrival, I will take to the grave … now I can die happy,” he added.
Elsewhere Pacheta got off to a winning start as Villarreal’s new coach thanks to Alexander Sorloth’s 94th minute winner against Almeria in a 2-1 victory.
Getafe edged Osasuna 3-2, with Greenwood making his debut, and his first appearance since January 2022.
The English striker, on loan at Getafe from Manchester United, was charged with attempted rape and assault in October 2022 but the charges were later dropped.
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas sent Greenwood on in the 77th minute to applause from home fans at the club’s Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium.
A group of Osasuna supporters greeted the 21-year-old’s arrival to Spanish football with chants of “Greenwood, die”.
“I didn’t hear them so I have nothing to say,” said Bordalas. “I am very happy with the kid’s debut.”
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