First team

2-1: THE IX ANTONIO PUERTA TROPHY STAYS IN NERVIÓN

11/08/2017

Escudero and Nolito were the scorers for Sevilla in a great match against AS Roma which was worthy of honouring the Left-back of Diamonds

The match paying homage to Antonio Puerta was predicted to be an incomparable one and so it was. Overall, it was a test for Berizzo's men, who signed off pre-season this Thursday following weeks of hard work and preparation, leaving them with six days to prepare for the first leg of the Champions League play-off. And the work paid off. Pulling out all the stops, Sevilla barely gave Di Francesco's team time and space to do what they wanted with the ball. Lead forward once again by Éver Banega, the home side decided to impose their style of play onto the game from early on. However, fans were made to wait for the first goal until an hour into the game, when Escudero beat Alisson to score the first goal of the night after a great bit of play from Nolito, who went on to score the second. Dzeko halved the deficit but by then the game was already won.

But attempts to find the back of the Italian net began early on. Correa, Montoya and Ben Yedder all tested the keeper in the early stages of the clash, before Nolito and Corchia had to come on for Correa and Mercado, both of whom were suffering from discomfort. But the opposition were not holding back. Ab effort from Kolarov forced Rico into action, who was quickly ready to stop another effort, this time from De Rossi.

Sevilla knew how to be resilient against a Champions League rival who came to Nervión to compete

The first half then came to an end in Seville, with the home team looking much improved at the back, Lenglet in particular looking impressive. It was clear they knew how to thwart a Champions League level opponent who came to Nervión to compete. And they continued to demonstrate this after the break, when Roma had their clearest opportunity yet as a shot from Drefel crashed against the post.

But this marked a turning point in the match, after which Sevilla came tantalisingly close again, this time with a header from Krohn-Dehli which Alisson somehow managed to get his fingertips to. Nolito, alert as ever, managed to control the rebound and get a shot away but it was smothered by Manolas. Nzonzi now joined the party, with Pizarro's substitution allowing the Frenchman to play higher up the pitch and charge forward.

There was an impressive and emotional standing ovation for Jesús Navas, who was stepping onto the pitch of the Sánchez-Pizjuán after being away for four years

But if the homage of the night was for Antonio, the ovation during the match was for an old acquaintance of the stadium, the man who was about to step onto the pitch after four years of absence: Jesús Navas. An impressive reception for the Los Palacios-born player from fans who did not disappoint in their filling of the stands at the Sánchez-Pizjuán and enjoyed, after the winger's arrival into the fray, an XI incorporating all seven of this summer's new arrivals.

And who, moreover, were soon able to celebrate the goal they had been hoping for, which came from the boot of Escudero. The Valladolid native made a run in behind the Roma defence like a bullet and latched onto a slick pass from Nolito to break the deadlock. And the latter went from provider to protagonist. The Andalusian bagged the second with his signature finish, which was just what his performance deserved. And although Dzeko pulled one back in injury time with a tidy finish, the trophy, this time, was set to stay at home.

A deserved victory for Eduardo Berizzo's team, who demonstrated against a prominent opponent that the pieces fit, the gears are greased and that the machine is virtually ready. The moment of truth has now arrived.

Sevilla FC: Sergio Rico (David Soria, m.46); Mercado (Corchia, m.37), Nico Pareja (Kjaer, m.46), Lenglet (Borja Lasso, m.83), Escudero; Nzonzi, Krohn-Dehli (Pizarro, m.54); Correa (Nolito, m.30), Éver Banega (Ganso, m.76), Montoya (Jesús Navas, m.54); and Ben Yedder (Muriel, m.46).

AS Roma: Alisson; Bruno Peres, Manolas (Juan Jesús, m.83), Héctor Moreno (Fazio, m.65), Kolarov; Strootman (Pellegrini, m.65), Nainggolan (Gerson, m.83), De Rossi (Gonalons, m.74), Perotti; Drefel (Cengiz Under, m.65) and Dzeko.

Goals: 1-0, m.73: Escudero; 2-0, m.89: Nolito; 2-1, m.91: Dzeko.

Referee: José Luis Munuera Montero (Andalusian Committee). Bookings for the home side for Correa (m.25) and Corchia (m.67) and for the visitors Strootman (m.56) y Dzeko (m.88).