Match reports

0-1: BEN YEDDER FINISHES OFF A COUNTER TO GIVE SEVILLA AN ADVANTAGE WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN MORE

14/02/2019

Sevilla completely dominated the match in Rome, taking the initiative right from the off and counter-attacking through the Italian side's weak midfield. Ben Yedder's goal came from one of these counterattacks and they could have scored more, with Sevilla somewhat profligate in front of goal

Sevilla FC are bringing a wonderful result back to Nervión for the second leg in the Europa League Round of 32. A wonderful result but also one that could have been even better, as Sevilla's profligacy in front of goal denied them from opening up an even bigger gap in the scoreboard, with Lazio hardly having a chance in the first half. Lazio's forced substitutions through injury and the control that Sevilla began to exert on the game in the second half closed off a fruitful visit to the Italian capital for the Nervionenses.

The first half was very professionally taken care of by Sevilla, they did indeed come to live in the competition as had been said in the run-up to the game. The team needed it and they went out onto the pitch in the Olympic Stadium in Rome with a clear gameplan and a mental and physical freshness in the players who very quickly showed their quality. By the fifteenth minute, Sevilla had already made many breaks into Strakosha's box but their lack of accuracy prevented them from worrying Lazio's goalkeeper.

Escudero, Sarabia and Ben Yedder combined perfectly in the counterattack that led to the goal

The game continued in this manner until halfway through the first half when, in a counter practically from Sevilla's box, Escudero broke into the final third, played in Sarabia who put a cross right onto Wissam Ben Yedder's foot who finished with aplomb to open the scoring. It was a textbook counter with Sevilla benefitting from Lazio's open midfield. Inzaghi's men only had one clear opportunity in the first half - Marusic's shot which squirmed under Vaclík before Kjaer cleared it off the line.

A moment of indecisiveness from André Silva in the box let another chance get away from Sevilla after some more lax defending from Lazio. The Italian side suffered a blow before the break with Luis Alberto having to come off through injury; they were forced to make a double change at the break, taking Parolo off as well due to injury. 10 minutes into the second half Lazio were forced to make their third change, this time Bastos coming off injured. After only 57 minutes Lazio had made all their substitutions but with a shot from Caicedo they managed to worry Sevilla's goal as they pressed higher, looking to force Sevilla back into their half.

Franco Vázquez could have made it 2-0 in injury time with Lazio pushing up looking for an equaliser

Lazio's siege passed and Sevilla began to assert themselves on the game again. Machín's team had three back-to-back chances, firstly a shot from Escudero that went out for a corner, then Franco Vázquez had a shot from the corner, before André Silva headed wide from a Jesús Navas cross. Machín made his first changes as he looked to see the game out, with only a shot from Lulic from the edge of the box slightly worrying Vaclík.

Franco Vázquez, from Sevilla's umpteenth counterattack as a result of Lazio's unordered defence, could have made it 2-0 in injury time. The Argentine was not decisive enough and the game ended with Sevilla taking a very positive result back to Nervión. Sevilla, who will be without Banega through suspension, will welcome Lazio to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán next Wednesday as they look to qualify for the next round.

GAME SUMMARY

0. SS LAZIO: Strakosha, Bastos (Luiz Felipe, 57'), Acerbi, Radu, Marusic, Lulic, Parolo (Cataldi, 46'), Leiva, Luis Alberto (Durmisi, 44'), Correa and Caicedo.

1. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Mercado, Kjaer, Sergi Gómez, Jesús Navas, Escudero (Promes, 75'), Banega, Franco Vázquez, Sarabia (Amadou, 83'), Ben Yedder (Munir, 71') and André Silva.

GOALS: 0-1 Ben Yedder, 22'.

REFEREE: Slavko Vincic. Yellows for Radu, Banega, Correa, Mercado and Acerbi.