Sevilla 3-2 Real Sociedad
Sevilla moved level with Real Sociedad today thanks to a narrow win as Youssef En Nesyri scored a brilliant hat-trick. The win takes Los Sevillanos up to 30 points, in sixth place behind La Real on goal difference but just two behind third placed Villarreal and with two games in hand.
This clash, La Liga: Sevilla vs Real Sociedad was always going to be well contested between two top four hopefuls, but Sevilla’s current form and En-Nesyri’s clinical performance gave the hosts the edge. The 23 year old Moroccan striker took his season tally to eight and that lifted him up alongside the leading group for the La Liga Golden Boot.
Highlights of the game
The Sevilla vs Real Sociedad highlights package was pretty full before either team had really had chance to settle into their stride! In a blistering opening we saw four goals in the first 15 minutes, two at either end. Sevilla have been strong on home soil all season and they were ahead after just four minutes when En-Nesyri scored his sixth goal of the campaign. Brazilian midfielder Fernando was the provider in his first game back from suspension, teeing up En-Nesyri in the centre of the penalty area, and he did the rest firing home to open the scoring. But the lead lasted just one minute until Fernando’s team-mate and countryman, Diego Carlos put through his own goal.
The centre-back is one of the most highly regarded defenders in Europe but this was an absolute howler as he turned, just outside his own penalty area, and lobbed his keeper, Yassine Bounou to level the scores.
As the game continued at break-neck pace En-Nesyri put Sevilla ahead again, just two minutes later, firing low into the bottom right corner. But Sociedad roared back again, though we had a lengthy seven minute wait for them to equalise this time! Ivan Rakitic conceded a corner and from the dead ball kick Mikel Oyarzabal found Alexander Isak on the left side of the six yard box and he fired home.
Suso scored in last week’s Seville Derby, a draw with Real Betis, and he was busy causing problems for the La Real defence today, winning a foul on the right wing and then delivering a perfect cross for Rakitic, but his header flew wide of the left hand post. Sevilla’s Joan Jordan had a shot saved in the bottom corner after good work from Lucas Ocampos and then Jordan put En-Nesyri through on goal, but this time his shot was saved.
For La Real, Modibo Sagnan had a shot saved in the bottom corner as the teams went into half time level.
But it took En–Nesyri just one minute of the second half to score his third and the winner. Again it was Ocampos with a deadly ball into the box which the Moroccan hit man converted from close range.
Los Sevillanos piled forward in an attempt to put the game to bed and Suso had a shot blocked after good work from Jesus Navas, and then he forced a save as he arrowed an effort towards the bottom right corner.
Mikel Merino had Sociedad’s best chance to grab a point when he met an Isak cross with a powerful header, but the Seville defence stood firm to block and take all three points.
Key statistics
Los Sevillanos are now unbeaten in six matches in this fixture and five at home after a second consecutive 3-2 win over La Real at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
The pre-match Sevilla vs Real Sociedad betting odds had the hosts marginal favourites at odds of 2.23 and it was an excellent game with both sides going all out for the win. Sevilla bossed the possession with 60 per cent of the ball, though with ten shots each and six to four on target they were pushed all the way but just about deserved their victory.
What’s next?
The games keep on coming thick and fast for Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla and they have another huge match coming up on Tuesday when they head to Madrid to face Atletico. We’ll be previewing that clash here at SBOTOP with statistics and betting tips, and it’s sure to be a cracker. Los Rojiblancos are top of the league, but they crashed out of the Copa del Rey last week losing 1-0 to third tier UE Cornella. Diego Simeone played a lot of fringe players but he will regret fielding first choice centre back Jose Gimenez, who went off with an ankle injury.
Meanwhile Real Sociedad have a Copa del Rey date away to Segunda Division Cordoba, before hosting Real Betis in the league.
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