'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sevilla beat Barcelona 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final clash in the 2020-21 Copa del Rey, leaving the Blaugrana with a mountain to climb in the return leg.
Jules Kounde and Ivan Rakitic scored two amazing goals in either half as the Rojiblancos go to Camp Nou next month with a significant advantage.
Barcelona were visibly fatigued and struggled to create too many openings, with skipper Lionel Messi also frustrated by Bono, who denied him on two occasions with excellent saves.
Trending
Ronaldo Koeman's side now has a huge deficit to overcome at home in three weeks as Sevilla are dreaming of a first Copa del Rey final since 2018.
On that note, here are the five hits and flops from either team:
Hit: Jules Kounde (Sevilla)
If it wasn't clear already, the 22-year old French defender once again demonstrated his talent with a defensive masterclass.
Excellent in the air, composed in possession and always anticipating and diffusing Barcelona's attacks, Jules Kounde devoured the mighty visitors with a colossal performance at the back.
He was the bulwark that prevented Barcelona from firing; Jules Kounde made his presence felt at the other end too, with an all-important strike following a dazzling run through the heart of the Blaugrana defence.
Flop: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
It was a rare off-game for the Blaugrana captain, who looked subdued for most of the match and even saw three of his efforts saved by Bono, including one well-executed free-kick.
Lionel Messi's usual wizardry went missing, as Sevilla dealt with his threat pretty well, and some of his efforts were quite wayward too.
Moreover, in a repeat of that infamous instance from the Spanish Supercup final last month which got him sent off, the Argentine skipper was involved in another physical spat and was lucky to escape a red.
Nevertheless, that moment well and truly summed up Messi's night - one of frustration and disappointment. He now needs to dig his side out of a massive hole in the second leg.
Hit: Yassine Bounou (Sevilla)
Yassine Bounou has quietly been one of the best goalkeepers in the La Liga since joining Sevilla from Girona last season.
Against Barcelona, Bounou was at his best yet, as the Moroccan custodian produced four incredible saves to deny Barcelona and clinch a well-deserved clean sheet.
Three of those attempts came against Messi, as Bounou stood tall in the face of the onslaught.
His best piece of action came towards the end of the match, when he dived the right way to keep out the Barcelona ace's fabulous free-kick in stoppage time, preventing Messi from bagging a late away goal.
The likes of Kounde and Ivan Rakitic will make all the headlines for their superb efforts, but Bounou is the real Man of the Match for his exceptional performance between the sticks.
Flop: Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona)
Samuel Umtiti hasn't looked sharp since returning to the Barcelona fold after a lengthy injury lay-off; against Sevilla, he was absolutely horrific.
The Frenchman was guilty of coming up short for both of Sevilla's goals; he was humiliatingly nutmegged by Kounde for the first and then lied on the ground when Rakitic thumped home the second.
The Frenchman is clearly yet to achieve full match-fitness and needs to start games from the bench till he is able to do so.
Hit: Ivan Rakitic (Sevilla)
Ivan Rakitic plays against his former club and scores a goal which could potentially knock them out of the competition - how poetic!
The Croat, who rejoined the Rojiblancos last summer after six great seasons with Barcelona, struck a powerful effort beyond Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in the 85th minute to double Sevilla's advantage.
More than anything, Rakitic's goal was a shot at redemption; he had become a figure of hate at Barcelona during his later years and was offloaded without any show of appreciation from the club either.
Even though Sevilla's job is only half done, the midfielder once again reminded the Cules of their mistake and showed he can still deliver in the big games.
