André Silva challenges for the ball against Pedraza
Match reports

3-0: VILLARREAL MAKE THE MOST OF A WEAK SEVILLA

17/02/2019
A corner and another goal before the break sealed the home side's win, with Pedraza adding to the score in the 86th minute

Both Villarreal and Sevilla were desperate for a win today in La Liga. They had different objectives: Villarreal to escape the relegation zone and Sevilla to get back on track in the league and away from home. The home side controlled and dominated the game and were clinical with the chances they had; they were rarely put under pressure from a side who showed weaknesses away from home once again.

The Yellow Submarines completely controlled the first half barring a couple of chances that Munir had to level the match on the half-hour mark. Until then Villarreal had Sevilla where they wanted them, controlling the ball and getting into Vaclík's box. Their first goal arrived in the 20th minute from a Cazorla corner which found Álvaro unmarked in the box having freed himself from Wöber and the Spaniard made no mistake in finishing off the chance.

 

After the reaction from the Nervionenses, the home side got back in control of the game and started attacking Sevilla again, causing a lot of danger through Bacca and Ekambi's movement between the three centre-backs. Just before the referee's whistle for half time, a combination down the left allowed the two strikers to combine to make it 2-0, with a back heel from Bacca taking Kjaer and Vaclík out of the game, leaving Ekambi alone in front of an open goal.

Villarreal completely dominated the first half and were clinical to make it 2-0 going into the break

Pablo Machín made a double change at the start of the second half, bringing on Sarabia and Ben Yedder in search of goals. Sevilla had a positive start to the second half and managed to cause danger in Villarreal's box unlike the first 45 minutes. Sarabia forced Asenjo into a good save with a right-footed shot.

With Sevilla comfortable on the ball and getting closer to getting a goal back, Pedraza went off on a great run down the left wing, cutting inside before firing a shot at Vaclík. Sevilla went on the attack again and Munir had his third chance of the match, shooting straight at Asenjo.

Sevilla could not get a goal back and Pedraza sealed the match with five minutes to go

Villarreal dropped back and allowed Sevilla to push forward, however the Nervionenses were not clinical and were not clear in their ideas in the final third. With Sevilla pushing high up the pitch, leaving gaps in behind, Pedraza sealed the game after another impressive dribble down the left. Ekambi could have made it even worse when he struck the post two minutes later.

No matter what happens this matchday Sevilla will remain in fourth place, however the teams below are continuing to reduce the distance to the Champions League spots. They will welcome Lazio to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on Wednesday night in the second leg of the Europa League Round of 32 and then on Saturday they welcome FC Barcelona to Sevilla in the league.

GAME SUMMARY

3. VILLARREAL CF: Asenjo, Álvaro, Bonera (Funes Mori, 12'), Víctor Ruiz, Mario Gaspar, Pedraza, Iborra, Cáseres (Morlanes, 75'), Cazorla, Bacca (Fornals, 66') and Ekambi.

0. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Kjaer (Escudero, 64'), Sergi Gómez, Wöber, Jesús Navas (Ben Yedder, 46'), Promes, Amadou, Roque Mesa, Franco Vázquez (Sarabia, 46'), Munir and André Silva.

GOALS:  1-0 Álvaro, 20'. 2-0 Ekambi, 45'. 3-0 Pedraza, 86'. 

REFEREE: González González. Yellows for Ekambi, Álvaro, Roque Mesa, Mario Gaspar and Funes Mori.