PreviousLiveChronicle
Balsamic victory for Sevilla, allowing them to take a breather in an urgent situation, against a Rayo with good manners but little impact. The difference in a very close game was the forwards. En-Nesyri scored two goals, well supported by Isaac, while Rayo failed to capitalize on their great dominance, especially in the second half. These were the moments when Nyland supported his team, notably with three decisive interventions against Camello and Isi, on two occasions. Sevilla are three points away from relegation, which is a lot for a team that lives in a situation that is inappropriate for their unit. Lightning makes life difficult. They are a team with energy, although they lack punch. It's complicated. It is a damaged group that has already gone nine games without a win in Vallecas, where it is suffering too much. In addition, they offered defensive options that were unsuitable for a team seeking calm in the middle zone.
1
Dimitrievski, Aridane, Balliu (Nteka, Min. 86), Luis Espino (De Frutos, Min. 85), Lejeune, Isi, Óscar Valentín, Unai López (Miguel Silva, Min. 72), Josep Chavarría (Trejo, Min. 64 ), Sergio Camello (De Tomás, Min. 64) and Álvaro García
2
Ørjan Haskjold Nyland, Jesús Navas (Juanlu Sanchez, Min. 76), Loic Bade, Marcos Acuña (Diego Hormigo, Min. 54), Marcao, Boubakary Soumare, Lucien Agoume (Hannibal Mejbri, Min. 81), Lucas Ocampos, Djibril Sow (Óliver Torres, min. 53), En-Nesyri and Isaac Romero
Goals 0-1 min 19: En-Nesyri. 1-1 min 29: Isi. 1-2 min 44: En-Nesyri.
referee Francisco José Hernández Maeso
Yellow cards Isaac Romero (min. 36), Marcos Acuña (min. 49), Hannibal Mejbri (min. 85), Miguel Silva (min. 91) and Dimitrievski (min. 96)
Seville has many problems, but there are also solutions. They are a weak team in defense that is easy to score. On the other side of the scale, two strikers, Isaac and En-Nesyri, shine with the ability to rescue him from the quagmire he finds himself in. One comes from the quarry, Isaac, whose appearance was crucial. He does almost everything well and has a goal. The other is En-Nesyri. Sevilla must be grateful for Morocco's early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations. The attacker came and played to deal a blow to his team. When he doesn't have time to think, En-Nesyri is a deadly striker. His two goals in the first year appeased a defensively very weak Rayo team that is not performing well in Vallecas. In fact, both Rayo and Sevilla offered too many options at the back. The Andalusians had more power and therefore stayed in the game. A clash tainted by a local fan's ugly gesture on the touchline with Ocampos.
Rayo improved in the second half. With all his strength he brought the fearful Sevilla into his territory. Quique's team fighting windmills was saved thanks to Nyland. Rayo didn't score and Sevilla even scored their third goal with a shot from Ocampos that hit the post. Sevilla were saved, while Rayo ran into trouble as they tried to live peacefully in the middle of the standings. It was of no use to him to fire up to 22 shots at the goal of a rival who thrived on the scent of his attackers. “We are screwed because we deserve at least one point. I don't know if we need to play more practically. The statistics prove us right, but we didn't win. “We made mistakes in the first half that we shouldn’t make against a rival like Sevilla,” clarified Francisco, Rayo coach.
“We knew it was a demanding game and we got an important victory,” said Ocampos, for his part, who was the subject of a regrettable gesture from a young fan on the sidelines as he was about to take the throw-in. “These are four idiots who defile a fan like Vallecas. I held back because I have two daughters. It was a gesture that cannot be tolerated in football. “If this happens in women’s football, we already know what can happen,” he clarified.
“Lucky, these are tough weeks. It's about being satisfied. The two strikers are guys who look forward and see space very well. It was difficult for us, Rayo pushed us, but thanks to their speed we got out well. The two at the top were very good,” said Sevilla coach Quique Sánchez Flores. “It's not easy to play under the circumstances. I was a footballer and I know what that is. “The boys have football and they have to show it,” he said. “You have to ask yourself what’s going on in people’s minds. I'm worried about it. It is dangerous that there are distracted minds who go to the stadiums. “I hope it doesn't happen again,” said Quique, summing up the humiliation that Lucas Ocampos had to endure.
You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on Facebook and Xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.