Reigning champions Barcelona on Saturday suffered their second defeat in three matches in La Liga, with Michael Krohn-Dehli scoring and setting up another goal in a 2-1 victory for Sevilla.
Denmark international Krohn-Dehli tucked the ball home after 52 minutes following a pass from Kevin Gameiro to give Sevilla the lead and then provided a cross for Vicente Iborra to nod in six minutes later.
Barca, with Lionel Messi absent through injury, hit the woodwork on four occasions, but luck was not on their side.
Photo: Reuters
Neymar struck the post with a free-kick after 23 minutes, with the ball then striking the woodwork again, after rebounding off keeper Sergio Rico, and running across the goal line just out of the reach of Gerard Pique.
Luis Suarez also fired against the crossbar with a curling effort from outside the area before half-time, but Barca’s defending was poor and they paid the price after the break.
Neymar scored from the penalty spot on his 100th appearance after a 74th minute handball from Benoit Tremoulinas and then substitute Sandro Ramirez was denied by the woodwork with 10 minutes to go.
Photo: EPA
Barca have 15 points from seven games.
“It is frustrating to lose like that as we had several chances and they scored with the first two they had,” Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic said. “We now have to lift ourselves and go for everything in the next few games.”
Barca’s injury list also included Andres Iniesta, but Rakitic did not blame the absentees.
“This is part of football. It is tough with players out and we hope they come back quickly, but it is the same for all teams,” he said.
Keeper Claudio Bravo was back for the Catalan side and replaced under-fire Marc-Andre Ter Stegen who has been criticized for some recent displays, but he could do little with the goals.
Elsewhere, Charles grabbed a hat-trick for Malaga in a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad, who scored through Imanol Agirretxe.
Piti’s goal gave Granada a 1-1 draw at home to RC Deportivo de La Coruna after Faycal Fajr had given the visitors the lead.
Saul Berjon and Borja Baston struck for Sociedad Deportiva Eibar in a 2-0 triumph at UD Las Palmas, while Alex Menendez’s stoppage-time winner helped Real Sporting de Gijon beat RCD Espanyol 2-1.
BUNDESLIGA
Borussia Moenchengladbach defeated VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 at home to cap a remarkable turnaround after their dismal start to the season.
Raffael shrugged off Timm Klose’s foul, crossing for Havard Nordtveit to break the deadlock in the 76th minute and Lars Stindl produced a defense-splitting pass for Ibrahima Traore three minutes later, sealing the hosts third successive win after starting with five straight defeats.
Hertha BSC striker Vedad Ibisevic scored twice in as many minutes to seal a 3-0 win over Hamburger SV.
Solomon Kalou opened the scoring in the 17th, eluding Johan Djourou and firing inside the left post before Ibisevic sealed Hertha’s third straight win at home in the 79th.
Salif Sane’s 59th-minute header was enough for Hannover 96 to beat Werder Bremen 1-0 for their first win.
Timo Werner equalized in the last minute for VfB Stuttgart to salvage a 2-2 draw at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Hoffenheim forward Kevin Volland scored a penalty in the 33rd and then canceled out Jan Kliment’s 64th-minute equalizer with a wonderful chip over the goalkeeper, before Werner headed into the left corner for the draw.
Ingolstadt 04 defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 for their first home Bundesliga win.
LIGUE 1
Olympique Lyonnais’ Alexandre Lacazette atoned for another missed penalty by scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory at home to Stade de Reims in Ligue 1.
Lazacette blasted a first-half penalty against the woodwork before netting just his second goal of the season shortly after as Lyon avoided a UEFA Champions League hangover on a particularly damp afternoon at the Stade de Gerland.
It was just a second win in seven games in all competitions for Hubert Fournier’s side, but only a second loss of the season for surprise package Reims, as their five-match unbeaten run was brought to an end.
Elsewhere, Angers SCO won 1-0 at home to SC Bastia, Gazalec Ajaccio were held 2-2 by visitors Toulouse, and En Avant de Guingamp beat hosts ESTAC Troyes 1-0.
SERIE A
Carpi registered their first-ever Serie A win with a 2-1 victory over Torino.
Carpi broke the deadlock with a bit of luck as Gabriel Silva’s effort crashed off the left post and went in off Torino goalkeeper Daniele Padelli’s shoulder.
The home side doubled their lead in the 72nd when Ryder Matos headed Marco Borriello’s cross into the bottom right corner.
Torino were handed a way back into the match three minutes later when Maxi Lopez fired a penalty into the right side of the net after being brought down by Igor Bubnjic.
In the day’s other game, AC Chievo Verona rescued a 1-1 draw in their derby match at home to Hellas Verona.
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