Óscar Rodríguez scores vs Deportivo Alavés

1-0: ÓSCAR RODRÍGUEZ SCORES A STUNNER IN THE FRIENDLY AGAINST DEPORTIVO ALAVÉS

09/09/2021

Sevilla FC beat the Basque side in Nervión thanks to Óscar's screamer on the stroke of half time

Tonight's result was not the most important thing, but Sevilla FC took advantage of their behind closed doors friendly against Deportivo Alavés to claim another victory. They did so thanks to a beauty of a strike from Óscar Rodríguez just before the interval, with a vicious drive from outside the area that Sivera could do nothing about. In the second half, where both sides made a whole host of changes, Ocampos made his return to action, as did a number of players who had been on international duty. In five days, competitive action is back at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, with a Champions League fixture against FC Salzburg.

Sevilla were the first team to threaten via Suso, with his trademark move of cutting in from the right before shooting, but Sivera tipped his shot round the post for a corner. The side from Vitoria reacted almost immediately, with a quick counter-attack involving Miguel de la Fuente and Pellistri, but Dmitrovic won the battle of wits against the latter as he went clean through on goal. That chance would end up being the best that the visitors could create in the first half.

The hosts then took control of proceedings, but, at the same time, they barely troubled Sivera. Debutant Juan María came closest to breaking the deadlock with a powerful drive from the left that went over the bar. However, a minute before the break, Óscar Rodríguez picked the ball up outside the box and beat Sivera with a venomous shot, that went in via the underside of the bar.

Ocampos made his return to action, while Dmitrovic, Koundé and the three Moroccans all featured

Julen Lopetegui did not make any changes at the break, and the first 15 minutes of the second half were very even, with very little play taking place in either area. Both sides made a whole host of changes on the hour mark, with seven made by Lopetegui. Navas, Rekik, Fernando and Suso were the starters who stayed on the field, and various internationals were brought on, such as Bono, Munir, En-Nesyri and Koundé. Academy player José Ángel also got some minutes under his belt.

Those changes brought some chances back into the game, with the most clear-cut of them all falling to Koundé just after he came on, but his goalmouth effort went over the bar. Guidetti nearly levelled the scores with a header, but Bono somehow managed to reach out and divert the ball away. The four players who had stayed on were withdrawn with fifteen minutes to spare, and they were replaced by Juanmi, Armenteros and Pedro Ortiz, as well as Ocampos, who is back after his injury. He too went close just seconds after he came on, but Pacheco was equal to the task. All in all, a productive friendly for Sevilla FC, as they got 90 minutes under their belt ahead of Tuesday's Champions League opener.

Sevilla FC: Dmitrovic (Bono, 62'), Jesús Navas (Juanmi, 76'), Diego Carlos (José Ángel, 62'), Rekik (Armenteros, 76'), Juan María (Koundé, 62'); Fernando (Pedro Ortiz, 76'), Óscar Rodríguez (Joan Jordán, 62'), Rakitic (Lamela, 62'); Suso (Ocampos, 76'), Idrissi (Munir, 62') and Rafa Mir (En-Nesyri, 62').

Goals: 1-0, 44': Óscar Rodríguez.