What a game at Camp Nou on Sunday. Considering it was only the third game of the season for both teams, it could be labelled a partidazo. We didn't see a lot of magic but Koeman and Lopetegui fought out a tactical battle at an extremely high level.
At the start of the game, the Sevilla coach managed to make his side take control of the possession. The disarmed Barça's double pivote and isolated the Catalans when they tried to bring the ball out. Lopetegui showed that he's capable of taking on any team, as was the case against Bayern Munich in the European Super Cup.
Barça, meanwhile, didn't stop trying and didn't fold. If Lopetegui kept it tight, Koeman tried to stretch the game and add pace where possible. It would have been and up and down team but in the end neither side wanted to run for the sake of it. Measured on the pitch, Sevilla tried to rob the ball like crazy and Barça tried to win it back.
Both teams were clean, which was nice. The result means Barça don't go into the international break with three wins from three but we have seen a team capable of responding to setbacks.
In addition, it seems Barça finally have some depth on the bench to bring on in. To see youth in Pedri and Trincao and the solidness of Pjanic coming on gives reasons to be optimistic.
RELATED STORIES
There is also one doubt, though. Would Sunday's game have been different with a No.9 to lead the Barcelona attack? And perhaps, against tougher rivals who are so well positioned, it would help to have a reference point upfront. Sevilla's centre-backs Koundé and Diego Carlos were not distracted during 90 minutes. Maybe Memphis Depay could have helped pull them about a bit more.