Champion Barcelona suffered its second defeat in three matches in La Liga on Saturday 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 hit the woodwork on four occasions but luck was not on its side as it lost its second consecutive away game following its 4-1 defeat by Celta Vigo, while for Sevilla it was some revenge for the European Super Cup loss in August.
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.
Suarez also fired against the crossbar with a curling effort from outside the area before half time but Barca’s defending was poor and it 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.
Barca has 15 points from seven games, a point behind leader Villarreal which is away to Levante on Sunday.
Fourth-placed Real Madrid, on 14 points, takes on Atletico Madrid, which is one place and two points below Real, also on Sunday.
The results: La Liga: Sevilla 2 (Krohn-Dehli 52, Iborra 58) bt Barcelona 1 (Neymar 74-pen). — Reuters
