Topics: La Liga, Barcelona, Sevilla, Jules Kounde
Things got a bit out of hand in Tuesday night's clash between the Sevilla and Barca with the latter running away with a point at the end against the host's 10 men.

Sevilla defender Jules Kounde had a night to forget in Tuesday's clash with Barcelona after being sent off for throwing a ball in the face of Jordi Alba. In the absence of the Frenchmen, the Andalusians held their ground to secure a crucial point in a 1-1 draw inside their backyard.

Prior to the biggest talking point of the game unravelling, Sevilla took the lead inside the 32nd minute through a well-worked free-kick routine. It was Alejandro Gomez who found the back of the net with a low shot after getting on the end of Ivan Rakitic's corner. 13 minutes later, Barcelona responded with a goal of their own through a corner-kick, with Ronald Araujo leaping to redirect home Ousmane Dembele's whipped cross in the rain soaked Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

The incident in the 63rd minute practically altered the course of events and cost Sevilla the opportunity to move within three points of league leaders Real Madrid. With both clubs searching for the deciding strike, Kounde was pictured tussling for the ball near the touchline with Alba and Gavi. The brief encounter ended with the pair nudging the defender in the back, subsequently enraging him.

Although he had won the resulting throw-in, Kounde turned and smacked Alba in the face with the ball, immediately sending the Spanish defender to the ground. With both referee and his linesman in direct view of the incident, on-pitch official Carlos del Cerro Grande wasted no time in issuing the red card, leaving Sevilla with a man short for the last half-hour. Watch:

With a point away from home, Barcelona missed out on a chance to move into the top four for the first time since August. They currently occupy seventh position ahead of the new year. and have now won only once in their previous four league games. A win for fifth-placed Atletico Madrid against Granada on Wednesday will see the the gap between the Catalans and the top four may widen to five points.