Real Madrid 2-2 Sevilla
The La Liga destiny seemed set.
For the first time in months, the reigning champions had matters back in their own hands after title rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid cancelled each other out.
That appeared to prove the perfect result for Real Madrid who knew they would move level on points with Atletico if they defeated fourth-placed Sevilla.
Yes, Sevilla had already shown a liking for unsettling big city clubs, including their Madrid rivals.
But this was too good an opportunity to miss, especially as victory would ensure Zinedine Zidane’s side would go top because of their head-to-head record. with three league games remaining – a position they would not have expected to find themselves in following their draw against Real Betis a fortnight ago.
The scene was set for La Liga highlights and it certainly delivered.
Highlights of the game
Looking to bounce back from their midweek Champions League exit to Chelsea to keep their hopes of silverware alive, Real made three changes as Alvaro Odriozola, Marcelo and Federico Valverde replaced skipper Sergio Ramos, Ferland Mendy and Eden Hazard.
Managed by former Real boss Julen Lopetegui, who had his own point to prove at the club which sacked him less than three months into his tenure in 2018, Sevilla opted for just one change from their last outing as Joan Jordan replaced Youssef En-Nesyri.
That meant a false nine system in attack with a trident of Suso, Papu Gomez and Lucas Ocampos.
Los Nervionenses have deserved immense credit for pulling themselves into title contention, a run of seven wins from eight matches between March 14 and April 25 seeing them close the gap on the top three.
Realistically, though – after coming from nowhere to be in contention – Sevilla’s own title challenge was ended by defeat to Athletic Bilbao last Monday.
Unbeaten in the league since the end of January, Real thought they had the perfect start when Karim Benzema headed home Odriozola’s cross just 12 minutes in.
VAR intervened though and, within another 10 minutes, the hosts were behind as Fernando was given too much space to collect Ivan Rakitic’s knock-down and slot the ball beyond Thibaut Courtois.
That promoted a spell of Real pressure as the visitors were pushed back, yet dogged defending managed to keep them out.
That sustained pressing continued into the second period, although the clear-cut opportunities remained few – Vinicius Junior spurning the best from close range 19 minutes into the second half after veteran duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, combined.
Within a minute, Zidane replaced Modric with Marco Asensio and you can guess what happened next as the sub was played through by Kroos and sent a low shot past Yassine Bounou for an instant equaliser.
At that point, most of the smart money would have been on Real but Sevilla showed some attacking intent of their own.
When, with 13 minutes remaining, Eder Militao handled the ball in the box, Rakitic fired the resulting penalty into the bottom corner and Sevilla were back in front.
Zidane immediately called for Eden Hazard, a player who had much to make up for after he was seen laughing with his former Chelsea team-mates after they knocked his current side out of the Champions League.
That angered Real fans, even if the Belgian apologised the following day by saying he didn’t mean to offend.
Amid six minutes of stoppage time, Sevilla were actually within 120 seconds of a first away league win at Los Blancos since December 2008 until the evergreen Kroos fired towards goal and it took a deflection off Hazard to haul Real level once more.
Casemiro then came within a whisker of a winner but, like Hazard’s apology, it was too little too late.
The top four can all still triumph in a remarkably tight title race, but the Sbotop La Liga betting odds, finally, point to Atletico Madrid to make it over the line.
Key statistics
Until today, none of the last 31 meetings in La Liga between Sevilla and Real Madrid had finished all square (11 wins for Sevilla and 20 for Real), since a 2-2 draw in May 2005, the longest run ever without a stalemate in this fixture in La Liga.
Asensio has scored more goals as a substitute than any other Real player under Zinedine Zidane.
Rakitic is the only player to score and assist in a game against Madrid this season and the first Sevilla player to do so since Renato Dirnei and Frédéric Kanouté in December 2008.
What’s next?
Sevilla are back in action at home to Valencia on Wednesday evening (May 12). That is swiftly followed by a visit to Europa League finalists Villarreal before they host Alaves on the final day of the league season.
Three are three games remaining for Real and they must win them all to have a chance of reclaiming the title.
They go to Granada on Thursday (May 13), visit Athletic Bilbao next Sunday and then conclude their campaign at home to Villarreal (May 23).
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