Papu Gómez celebrates his goal against RC Celta

3-4: SEVILLA FC COME AWAY WITH THE THREE POINTS IN A BACK-AND-FORTH GAME IN VIGO

12/04/2021
Sevilla moved ahead in the opening moments but fell behind shortly after, needing to overcome a 3-2 deficit in the second half against RC Celta

It is not usually how Sevilla FC do it, but tonight's win against RC Celta de Vigo is worth just the same number of points and tastes even sweeter. After moving into an early lead through Jules Koundé's header, the home side weathered the storm and went into half time 3-2 up after Fernando had equalised after Iago Aspas' double. The second half was more in Sevilla's favour as they turned the game around, exhibiting good football and putting fourteen points in between them and fifth place with eight matches to go. Unusual to concede three, but Sevilla move up to 61 points in Lopetegui's 100th game in charge of the Club.

The first half was marked by a ruthlessness from both sides as practically every shot went in, putting Sevilla in an extremely unusual situation as they went into the dressing room having conceded three goals. Despite a strong start from Celta, Koundé put Sevilla in front from an Acuña corner. The home side were undeterred however and could have equalised only a minute later when a corner fell to Aspas but the ball was deflected away. The equaliser would come though, and it was through that man Aspas. Koundé felled Santi Mina in the box and Celta's captain made no mistake. And four minutes later Aspas would make it two as he beat Bono in a one-on-one.

Celta came back from Koundé's goal and went into the break 3-2 up

Sevilla looked to get back into the game and began to exert more control of the ball. In the 35th minute, Fernando played a smart one-two with Suso and unleashed a shot on goal which looped over the 'keeper following a deflection of Aidoo. The game was level again, but once more, it was short-lived. Celta made the most of a lost ball in midfield and showed their strength in the counter-attack as Brais lifted a smart finish over Bono.

Julen Lopetegui's side came out strong in the second half to rectify what had happened in the first and they dominated the ball against Coudet's side. Suso sent a warning in the opening minutes with his typical cut-inside shot which Villar had to get down to save. Sevilla continued to push into Celta's box. En-Nesyri found space down the left and whipped a cross into the box and had fortune as it ricocheted off a Celta player into Rakitić's path who made no mistake and levelled the match. In line with the chaos in the first half, Celta could have scored a fourth immediately after as Bono had to make a smart save to deny Aspas his hat-trick.

Sevilla FC, replicating Celta in the first half, overturned the deficit with Rakitić and Papu Gómez' goals

With points on the line, Sevilla continued their push that had marked the second half and had began to fatigue Celta. Lopetegui made changes in the midfield and the Nervionenses continued to dominate. In yet another defensive mistake in the game, the final blow would come. Papu Gómez robbed the ball off Aidoo and finessed the ball beyond Villar with his left foot, putting Sevilla ahead with fifteen minutes to go. Óliver Torres could have killed the game in the 85th minute, but his shot after a superb run was blocked by a Celta defender.

The minutes ran down and Sevilla FC come away from Vigo with a huge comeback win over Coudet's team. The team extend their buffer to fifth place: fourteen points with only twenty-four left to play for. On Sunday, Sevilla travel to the Anoeta to face Real Sociedad in fifth place.

GAME SUMMARY

3. RC CELTA: Villar, Hugo Mallo, Aidoo, Fontán, Aarón, Tapia, Brais Méndez, Denis Suárez, Nolito (Baeza, 85'), Santi Mina (Ferreyra, 26' and Fran Beltrán, 82') and Aspas.

4. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas (Munir, 85'), Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña, Fernando, Jordán (Óliver Torres, 63'), Rakitic (Gudelj, 85'), Suso (Papu Gómez, 66'), Ocampos and En-Nesyri (De Jong, 63').

GOALS: 0-1 Koundé, 7'. 1-1 Aspas, 20' (penalty). 2-1 Aspas, 24'. 2-2 Fernando, 35'. 3-2 Brais Méndez, 42'. 3-3 Rakitic, 60'. 3-4 Papu Gómez, 75'.

REFEREE: Hernández Hernández. Yellows for Aspas, Koundé, Hugo Mallo, Diego Carlos and Brais Méndez.