World champions Barcelona were surprisingly beaten 2-1 by Sevilla Tuesday at home in the first leg of a King's Cup third-round tie, dpa reported.
Sevilla, who went to the Camp Nou decimated by injuries, are the first Spanish team to beat Barca this season. The Catalans will now have to win January 12 in Seville in order to reach the quarter- finals.
Josep Guardiola's team left the field complaining about referee Alfonos Perez Burrull, who disallowed two home goals and gave Sevilla a dubious penalty.
Guardiola fielded a reserve-packed side but brought back FIFA World Player Lionel Messi. The Argentine had a quiet match, though he did hit the Sevilla crossbar in the 23rd minute.
The Barca defence had massive problems in bringing the ball out from defence, with Dmytro Chygrynskiy looking very shaky.
Diego Capel put Sevilla ahead on the hour, after Renato had flicked on a centre from Jesus Navas. Bojan Krkic then had looked like a fair equalizer disallowed for an alleged foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Ibrahimovic made it 1-1 in the 74th minute after latching onto a long ball from Rafa Marquez. Then the hapless Chygrynskiy clumsily pulled down Capel for a debateable penalty, which was converted by Alvaro Negredo.
This is Barca's second poor result this week at home and raises questions about their ability to retain the six trophies that they won in 2009. On Saturday they were held 1-1 by Villarreal.
The other seven third-round ties all kick off this week.
On Wednesday, second-division Celta Vigo face Villarreal, while third-division Alcorcon - who eliminated Real Madrid in the second round - take on Racing Santander.
Also on Wednesday, 2008 cup winners play hosts to Deportivo Coruna, while Atletico Madrid are at second-division Recreativo Huelva.
On Thursday, Hercules face Osasuna, Rayo Vallecano take on Mallorca, and Malaga play Getafe.