Honours even in Seville

Sevilla and Barcelona ended the first leg of their Copa del Rye tie with honours even in the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán after Thierry Henry had put the visitors ahead and Diego Capel levelled for the hosts. The opening encounter between the two sides did not solve anything, but Barça may feel that they now have the advantage ahead of the second game in seven days time in Camp Nou. In an intense match, the referee handed out eight yellow card, five going to Barça, while there were plenty of chances for either side to gain the upper hand.

After both goals came before the break, the second half saw both teams search for a winner on the night only for Ernesto Chevan´ton to hit the bar at one end and Edmílson strike the post at the other.

Henry breaks the deadlock
In the opening minutes the referee's whistle was a familiar sound as the tackles went in from the start. While the pace of the game heated up, it was Barça that had the first clear chance of the match as Giovani Dos Santos fired just wide of Morgan De Sanctis' near post from ten yards out.

Barça continued to attack and in the 24th minute made the breakthrough as Thierry Henry netted a trademark goal. Rafa Márquez lifted a pass over the Sevilla defence and the Frenchman took one touch to control the ball and a second to slide it perfectly past the keeper and into the back of the net before wheeling away to celebrate.

The equaliser
Sevilla won the cup last season and were not prepared to give it up easily as the goal conceded appeared to spur them on and they raced forward in search of an equaliser. Five minutes before half-time Daniel Alves took aim from long range and saw his free-kick tipped over the bar by Valdes.

From the resulting corner the majority of players went to the near post and Diego Capel was able to stay back and meet the ball 12 yards from goal. The young full-back had time to take the ball down before firing it past Valdés and speeding off to celebrate.

Denied by the woodwork
After the break, the rhythm of the game changed little although Sevilla appeared to have an extra spring in their step and Chevantón went close as he met Alves' cross only to head against the crossbar. Luis Fabiano then produced a fine save from Valdés with a curling free-kick on the hour mark. At the other end Barça showed that they were still looking for a second goal too as Edmílson sped onto the ball before sending a low shot against the far post from nearly 30 yards out.

Evenly balanced
Neither side were able to score again before the end as Giovani shot over from the corner of the area before Chevantón nodded wide of the goal in the closing minutes. The tie is finely balanced ahead of next week's second leg in Camp Nou.

THE GOALS :

0-1, Henry (min 24)
1-1, Capel (min 43)