Match reports

2-6: SEVILLA DEMOLISH LEVANTE THANKS TO BEN YEDDER AND VACLÍK

23/09/2018

Sevilla come away from Valencia with the three points, where they killed the game in the first half with four goals and Vaclík saving a penalty which would have brought the game to 2-2. Sevilla's clinical nature, with a hat-trick from Ben Yedder, finished off the home team

An important, satisfying, but most of all necessary win for Sevilla today against Levante. The two consecutive defeats in La Liga meant that it was essential to pick up the three points in Valencia, but the way in which the team managed it will give them an extra boost and motivation for Wednesday's match against Real Madrid.

It was one of the most crazy first halves that Sevilla fans will remember - even a neutral would have enjoyed the match like few others. Five goals, a penalty saved by Vaclík, and three other clear chances missed by both teams. Sevilla put themselves in front through Ben Yedder a minute after Vaclík's save from Roger's header prevented Levante from going 1-0 up. However, a minute after, Roger finished off a cross from Bardhi to equalise.

A crazy first half: 5 goals, a hat-trick from Ben Yedder and Vaclík saving Morales' penalty

Levante started to spend more time in the final third, but Sevilla's decisiveness in front of goal put an end to Levante's hopes of a comeback. Carriço quickly put his team back in front with a header from a set piece delivered by Sarabia. Then came the decisive moment of the first half: Levante had the opportunity to hit back once again after Aleix Vidal gave away a penalty, but Vaclík came to the rescue by saving from Morales. This seemed to settle Sevilla's nerves and the goals started to flow: Sarabia won the ball in midfield and laid the ball on perfectly for Ben Yedder for his second. The striker did not stop there and completed his hattrick on the stroke of half-time after an error from Oier, ensuring Sevilla went into the break with a 4-1 lead.

The second half started just as the first half had ended. Levante, needing to change the game, started to open up and left even more spaces in behind, which Sevilla exploited clinically. André Silva grabbed the fifth in another counter-attack and as if Levante had not had enough already, Sarabia and Ben Yedder swapped roles, with Ben Yedder this time turning provider for the Madrid born midfielder, who had earlier assisted two of Ben Yedder's goals.

Sarabia got his goal after three assists in the first half

The contest effectively ended there. With Levante dejected and Sevilla, conscious of their big match on Wednesday, took their foot off the gas. Moses managed to get a goal for Levante in added time but it was a mere consolation after the damage that had already been done by Machín's side. On Wednesday, against Real Madrid, Sevilla have a golden opportunity to reinforce the improvements that were started against Standard and continued today in fine fashion.

Game Summary

2. LEVANTE UD: Oier, Mayoral, Rober Pier, Prcic (Vukcevic, 61'), Roger (Boateng, 61'), Bardhi, Morales, Postigo, Pedro López, Luna and Campaña (Moses, 73').

6. SEVILLA FC: Vaclik, Carriço, Sergi Gómez, Kjaer, Jesús Navas, Aleix Vidal, Banega (Roque Mesa, 62'), Vázquez, Sarabia (Muriel, 71'), Ben Yedder (Promes, 62') and André Silva.

Goals: 0-1, 11': Ben Yedder. 1-1, 12': Roger. 1-2, 20': Sarabia. 1-3, 36': Ben Yedder. 1-4, 45': Ben Yedder. 1-5, 49': André Silva. 1-6, 59': Sarabia. 2-6, 90': Moses.

Referees: Cuadra Fernández, from the Balearic Islands. Yellow cards for Postigo and Aleix Vidal.