Alexis Sánchez, who played for FC Barcelona between 2011 and 2014, found himself back on the pitch facing his former club during Sevilla’s 4-1 La Liga victory at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. The Chilean forward, now 36, scored from the penalty spot early in the match after a VAR-awarded foul on Isaac Romero.
Initially, Sánchez had vowed not to celebrate if he scored against Barça, but ultimately did in fact celebrate his strike after all. After the match, Alexis recounted: “yes, I had said I wouldn’t
celebrate, but sometimes the excitement overcomes me, and the desire drives me to do so.”
During his time at Barcelona, Sánchez enjoyed a fruitful spell, winning La Liga in 2012-13, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
He shared the dressing room with legends such as Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi Hernández, Neymar, and Carles Puyol. Reflecting on his years in Catalonia, Sánchez has called that Barcelona squad “without a doubt, the best Barça team in history.”
The match against Barcelona saw Sevilla dominate early, with Sánchez’s penalty followed by Isaac Romero’s goal before the 37th minute. Barcelona briefly threatened a comeback when Marcus Rashford scored a volley in first-half stoppage time, but Robert Lewandowski missed a crucial penalty, and Sevilla sealed the result with late goals from José Ángel Carmona and Akor Adams. It was a hugely exciting win for Sevilla, one that ultimately drove Sánchez to admit that despite his promise, the emotion of scoring at the Sánchez-Pizjuán got the better of him.
Before the match, Sánchez also reflected on his admiration for La Masia, Barcelona’s famed youth academy, highlighting its focus on positional awareness, possession, and respect for the game. He praised the academy’s philosophy for shaping his approach to football and noted that working with coaches and young players has left a lasting impact on his career.
