For FC Sevilla coach Juande Ramos, a week that flirted personal tragedy was instead capped with triumph, as his team battled back to defeat Barcelona, 2-1, Saturday in thrilling, if unlikely circumstances. On Wednesday, it was unknown whether Ramos would be able to attend the match, as the Sevilla coach was rushed to the hospital after being knocked unconscious during his team’s Copa del Rey game against bitter cross-town rival Real Betis. As an angry Betis crowd rained projectiles at the away team, a full half-liter bottle struck Ramos on the side of the head. Luckily, he sustained no long-term injury and was released from the hospital a day later.
It started badly for Sevilla on Saturday as Ronaldinho put the away team ahead in the 13th minute with a well-placed header from a perfect Ludovic Giuly cross. Replays suggested Giuly was offside, but the goal stood. Fifteen minutes later, Ronaldinho latched on to a poor back pass, rounding last-man Aitor Ocio, who was forced to take him down in the penalty area. However, the Brazilian badly misjudged his penalty kick, which Sevilla’s Andres Palop kicked away confidently.
That moment proved to be a catalyst for the home side. A textbook turn-and-finish from Alexander Kherzakov before halftime was followed by a powerful free kick in the 60th minute from man-of-the-match Daniel Alves that took a slight deflection on its way past Victor Valdes. The home team was in raptures as the 10 men took the lead and Barcelona had two men sent off. With 19 men on the field, Sevilla rode out its 2-1 lead, squandering several more chances in the process of moving one-point clear at the top of La Liga.