0-1: A SUSO SCREAMER SECURES A FIRST WIN AT THE MESTALLA FOR NEARLY NINE YEARS

22/12/2020

The Blanquirrojos were dominant for most of the match and scored late on, with Suso firing home after a great pass from Jordán

Nine years on, Sevilla FC have their win at the Mestalla. And it could not have come at a better time. The Blanquirrojos were clearly the more dominant side for large spells of this match, apart from the final fifteen minutes of the first half, where Valencia could have scored on the stroke of half time. The Nervionenses were back on top after the break, and found their winner in the final ten minutes, with Suso superbly latching onto Jordán's pass and battering the ball past Domenech from distance, giving the visitors a well-deserved win. A great Christmas present for Sevilla, who are now up to 23 points in LaLiga.

The first half saw Sevilla FC take charge of proceedings, keeping the ball well and penning Valencia CF into their own half. The Blanquirrojos regularly got forward and into the final third, but without truly threatening Domenech. Jordán, Ocampos and Suso all tried their luck from distance, but their efforts went wide and did not trouble the hosts. Javi Gracia's side gradually grew in confidence and began to create chances on the counter, but the Sevilla backline were able to stop them before they could get a shot away.

Gayá and Cheryshev had two big chances to put the hosts ahead before the break

Sevilla FC did not feel comfortable again until the interval, as Valencia CF had two huge chances to break the deadlock before the interval. Gayá went close after a cross from Jason, but Bono was able to punch away his powerful drive. With the referee about to blow his whistle for half time, Cheryshev went even closer, on the back of another counter attack, but his shot from the penalty spot was too close to Bono, who was able to push his effort away.

The first quarter of an hour after the break saw a change in the game. Valencia CF began to play better, looking to take charge of the game by pressing higher up. Cheryshev again went close, with Bono at full stretch low down to keep the scores level. Just before the hour mark, Suso tried again from distance, but a defender managed to head the ball away for a corner. Ocampos then had the biggest chance of the match up until that point for the visitors, but the final ball to En-Nesyri was too powerful and the chance was gone.

A magnificent ball from Jordán found Suso, who beat Domenech from distance to secure all three points

However, Sevilla FC were completely dominant in the closing stages, as they have been in so many matches this season. The match was then largely played out in Valencia's half and Sevilla appeared to be in better shape than their opponents, thanks to the changes made by Julen Lopetegui. They had two chances in quick succession, with Koundé heading narrowly wide just seconds before Domenech denied En-Nesyri, who had also gone close with a volley from just outside the six-yard box. The Nervionenses did not stop there. They copied Valencia's style of play to perfection, with Jordán setting up a counter attack with a stunning pass to Suso, who cut inside round a defender before powerfully hammering the ball beyond the keeper in the 81st minute.

The Andalusians were able to keep the hosts at bay and did not allow them to find a late equaliser, as they controlled the game well and did not allow them any further opportunities. The only chance fell to Munir, who could have doubled the visitors' lead in stoppage time, but he could only hook the ball over the bar. Finally, a win for Sevilla FC at the Mestalla, their first since February 2012, and a perfect response to the painful draw against Real Valladolid on Saturday. The next match is a week today, a crucial match against Villarreal in Nervión in the battle for Champions League qualification.

SUMMARY

0. VALENCIA CF: Jaume, Mangala (Manu Vallejo, 83'), Paulista (Guillem Molina, 16'), Diakhaby, Wass, Gayá (Álex Blanco, 68'), Soler, Cheryshev (Musah, 68'), Jason, Guedes and Maxi Gómez.

1. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas (Aleix Vidal, 68'), Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña, Fernando, Jordán (Gudelj, 85'), Óscar (Rakitic, 68'), Ocampos, Suso (Munir, 85') and De Jong (En-Nesyri, 58').

GOALS: 0-1 Suso, 80'.

REFEREE: Pizarro Gómez, from Madrid. Yellow cards for Wass, De Jong, Soler, Guillem Molina and Jordán.