1-0: Sevilla grind out the win

Sevilla FC take the points and move on. They haven't fallen away and are keeping up with the pace of the two giants of Spanish football. They won by the smallest margin possible against Athletic, having to work hard, but defending the lead that they earned in the first 15 minutes when Iborra put the ball away after Gorka parried Jovetic's penalty. Athletic controlled the ball and had plenty of bodies in Sergio Rico's box, but Sevilla contained the visitors authoritatively and came away with one of the hardest-earned wins of the season.

This Thursday's clash with Athletic was a typically tricky one in a relentless campaign, but this year Sevilla are putting together an outstanding season and are capable of taking all three points, even on difficult days when the usual fluency is missing and the opponent dominates in a number of phases of the game. It wasn't an easy task. Sampaoli's men welcomed an impressive side after a derby and with key men Pareja, NZonzi and Vitolo all absent. But the team made the most of their fast start to emerge victorious from one of the most difficult fixtures in the calendar.