André Silva celebrates his goal against Levante
Match reports

5-0: A SUPER SECOND-HALF TO RETURN TO WINNING WAYS IN THE LEAGUE

26/01/2019
All of the goals arrived in the second-half, when, after Ben Yedder's first, Levante opened up and Sevilla made the most of their excellent counter-attacking ability. Machín's men return to winning ways in the league to the delight of the fans

A brilliant win for Sevilla FC in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán against Levante UD. They ought to have gone into the break in the league, but a magnificent second-half of marvellous and clinical football gave Machín's team a more than deserved win to return to winning ways to the delight of the crowd. However, there were yet more injuries: this time to Aleix Vidal and Sergi Gómez who were forced from the pitch.

With both sides playing the same system, the first-half consisted of each team trying to impose themselves on the game. Sevilla  started to get on the front foot and ought to have gone into the break in the league. After only five minutes, Ben Yedder was denied by Oier in a one-on-one as a result of a superb bit of play by Aleix Vidal on the wing. The rhythm Sevilla were trying to impose on the game was halted for a few minutes due to Sergi Gómez's injury, with the Spaniard being replaced Gabriel Mercado. Levante had their first chance through Boateng after a corner.

Roque Mesa hit the post a few minutes before the break and Wöber impressed on his debut

Pablo Machín's team were getting into Levante's half often but could not make the push into the box and create dangerous chances. Promes and Vidal threatened with their speed and crosses from the wing. A positive note from the first-half was Wöber's performance. The Austrian centre-back, who was making his debut, was secure in defence and even put together a great piece of play in Levante's half, dribbling forward before striking a shot that just went wide of Oier's left post. Just before the break, Roque Mesa could have opened the scoring with a long-range strike that struck the post, with André Silva unable to turn home the rebound.

The first-half ended with Sevilla in Levante's half and the second began in the same way, but with a more clinical touch to finally beat Oier. An excellent combination between Roque Mesa, Aleix Vidal and Wissam Ben Yedder down the right wing left the latter one-on-one with the goalkeeper and the Frenchman did not fail this time. Any pressure Sevilla were feeling was now gone and Sevilla continued to push forward. Before Levante's best chance to equalise, with Morales hitting the bar, Machín had to make his second substitution of the game due to injury, with Sarabia coming on for Aleix Vidal.

Sevilla killed the game with the second goal by André Silva, with Levante leaving many open spaces

But Sevilla knew they had to make the most of this moment despite the injury. After winning the ball back from a goal kick, Banega played a brilliant pass to Promes, allowing the Dutchman to cross into André Silva to make it 2-0. The match was in Sevilla's hands and Levante began to open up looking for the comeback. After a corner, Machín's team embarked on a 6v1 counter-attack but could not find the finishing touch to kill the game.

But the third did arrive. The visitors fought more with their heart than their head and left many gaps throughout the pitch. Sarabia received on the left-wing and picked his head up to find an unmarked Franco Vázquez who beat Oier. The manager began to think about Wednesday's match and withdrew Banega for Amadou, but those on the pitch kept attacking relentlessly against a deflated Levante. Promes, with another great piece of play, was fouled in the area and Sarabia converted the penalty. The bar, five minutes from the end, saved Levante from a fifth and denied Silva his double. However, the fifth was to arrive in injury time, from another penalty with Roque Mesa fouled this tie. The crowd called for Promes and he obliged, scoring the rebound after the goalkeeper's initial save. 

The perfect win to prepare for the massive game in the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Barcelona in the Camp Nou after our 2-0 win in the first leg.

GAME SUMMARY

5. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Carriço, Sergi Gómez (Mercado, 10'), Wöber, Aleix Vidal (Sarabia, 53'), Promes, Roque Mesa, Banega (Amadou, 74'), Franco Vázquez, Ben Yedder and André Silva. 

0. LEVANTE UD: Oier, Cabaco, Manzanara, Rober Pier, Coke, Morales, Rochina (Jason, 70'), Campaña, Bardhi (Doukouré, 75'), Boateng (Roger, 75') and Mayoral.

GOALS: 1-0 Ben Yedder, 48'. André Silva, 60'. 3-0 Franco Vázquez, 70'. 4-0 Sarabia (penalty), 80'. 5-0 Promes, 90'. 

OFFICIAL: Alberola Rojas. Yellows for Mercado, Banega and Rober Pier.