Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid
Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid shrugged off a Champions League nightmare in Paris to beat La Liga pace setters Sevilla and go joint top of the league.
A second half header by the in form Karim Benzema gave Los Blancos a priceless victory at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. And that puts Real Madrid on 11 points, a happy end to a week in which they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Paris St Germain.
After a stunning set of results yesterday, La Liga Sevilla vs Real Madrid was a chance for both teams to take top spot, Sevilla could have gone clear, but falling to their first defeat of the season means Los Sevillanos have dropped to fifth.
Barcelona’s shock defeat to promoted Granada on Saturday was a boost for their title rivals, while Atletico Madrid was held to a home draw by Celta Vigo, and tonight’s result made it a rare perfect weekend for Real Madrid.
The story in the build up to this game was the meeting of Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui with his former employees and he will be frustrated by his team’s fitful display, while the pre match Sevilla vs Real Madrid betting odds of an away win at 2.53 proved to be a good bet!
Highlights of the game
Karim Benzema has been in scoring form, with four already in this campaign, and he had the first sight of goal, meeting a Toni Kroos corner and heading just over the bar. But as the first half began to take shape Sevilla pushed forward and Ever Banega fired wide from a corner. Skipper Jesus Navas tried his luck with a similar chance but he too was off target.
Roared on by 42,000 fans Sevilla continued to press and Luuk de Jong met a Joan Jordan corner but headed wide, as the hosts struggled to test Thibaut Courtois in the Los Blancos’ net.
In the run up to the game, pundits in England were discussing whether Eden Hazard had picked the wrong time to go to Real Madrid, a team in transition. And his injury plagued first few weeks must have been frustrating for a player who had won adulation in nine spectacular seasons in the Premier League. He began to exert more influence as the half wore on and tested Tomas Vaclik in the hosts’ net, shooting from a tight angle after Benzema had put him in.
Real Madrid were in the ascendancy as half time approached, and when Dani Carvajal latched on to a James Rodriguez through ball Vaclik again saved well. And the Sevilla keeper had to stretch to keep out a Gareth Bale shot on 39 minutes.
Los Sevillanos came out firing at the start of he second half and when Ever Banega crossed de Jong’s header was blocked, and Banega was again the provider when Daniel Carrico shot high and wide.
But Los Blancos absorbed the pressure and took the lead on 64 minutes when Dani Carvajal’s cross was met by Benzema and he headed his fifth goal of the season into the roof of he net.
De Jong missed another headed chance when Lucas Ocampos crossed, and substitute Nolito had a shot charged down but Los Blancos held out for a crucial win.
Key Statistics
The head to head Sevilla vs Real Madrid results have moved further in Los Blancos’ favour with 37 wins to Sevilla’s 16 over the last 57 games. Draws are rare in this fixture with only four over that period.
Los Blancos have overcome a bogey, winning at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium for the first time in six attempts and they inflicted a first defeat on Sevilla in seven games.
What’s next?
Mainly due to injuries, Los Blancos’ summer signings have struggled to make an impact so far this season but this was a big, big win. It puts Zidane’s team ahead of Barca and Atletico Madrid and is the perfect antidote to a Champions League hangover.
The new boys will be desperate to make an impact next weekend in their first Madrid derby when they take on Atleti at the Wanda Metropolitano, and what a stage that would be for Hazard to make his mark. Before that they have a midweek home fixture against Osasuna.
Sevilla is away to Eibar then at home to Real Sociedad and both games are good chances for Los Sevillanos to get their campaign back on track.
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