3-0: A HARD-FOUGHT WIN AGAINST GETAFE ON A BITTERSWEET NIGHT

06/02/2021

Despite the fact that Ocampos had a first-half goal controversially ruled out before picking up an injury after the break, Sevilla won their seventh match in a row thanks to goals from Munir, Papu Gómez and En-Nesyri

Lopetegui and his team already knew the difficulties of facing Getafe, but they could not possibly have imagined a scenario like the one that unfolded tonight at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. Although there was a happy ending in terms of the result, there was frustration, after Lucas Ocampos had a first-half goal controversially ruled out without much explanation, before he then suffered an injury in the second half. He was the victim of an awful tackle which, without VAR, would not have even been given as a foul. However, Sevilla showed their resilience and ended up comfortably dispatching Getafe. Goals from Munir, Papu Gómez and En-Nesyri brought up a seventh straight win to put the Nervionenses third in the table.

Getafe were expected to be well-positioned to make it difficult for Sevilla, but Lopetegui's men did not take long at all to take control of a match, which was, indeed, expected to be a slow burner. Suso had the first chance after three minutes, with one of his trademark shots from the edge of the area, which Rubén was able to save. A few minutes later it was Ocampos, who tried to score with a backheel at the near post from a corner, but his effort went into the sidenetting. The first chance for Getafe came midway through the half, with Maksimovic heading a Damián cross just wide of Bono's right hand post.

Sevilla deserved to be in front before the break, but they did the job in the second half

The match appeared to be opening up and Sevilla did find more space in the attacking third. There was danger every time Jules Koundé joined the attack, and he launched a counter attack which set up Ocampos for a long-range effort which fizzed just over the bar. A minute before that, he had headed wide from an Óliver cross, but the biggest chance of all for the Argentine was yet to come. Ten minutes before the break, Rubén beat away a Jordán cross, but it fell for an unmarked Ocampos, who tapped home and opened the scoring.

However, the referee, using VAR, decided to disallow the goal for a dubious handball, despite the protests from the Nervionenses. Strangely enough, earlier on in the first half, the referee had ignored Sevilla appeals for a handball in the area by a Getafe defender, and did not even go to the monitor to check his decision. The controversy continued in the second half, as the official did not blow for a foul after an awful challenge from Djené on Ocampos. This time, however, VAR corrected the mistake, and Martínez Munuera dismissed the Getafe captain for the challenge. Unfortunately, Ocampos could not continue and had to leave on a stretcher, with Papu Gómez replacing him.

Djené's challenge on Ocampos was only noticed thanks to VAR

Both managers were then sent to the stands in the aftermath, which saw Pablo Sanz take charge. He brought on Munir, who made an instant impact. In the 67th minute, he got on the end of a superb ball in from Jordán and volleyed home at the far post to give the Nervionenses the lead. Sevilla really took charge at this point. They thought they had doubled their lead after En-Nesyri converted from a corner, but Franco Vázquez had strayed offside, and the goal was chalked off. Getafe tried to find an equaliser but the Sevilla backline gave them no opportunities whatsoever. The centre halves reigned supreme while the full backs contributed effectively to the attacks.

The hosts were not content with a one-goal lead and went for broke to kill the match off. En-Nesyri hit the bar with a vicious effort from distance in the 80th minute, but Papu Gómez went one better five minutes later, scoring his first goal for the club with a 25-yard screamer. There was still time for another, with En-Nesyri truly sealing the win after he rounded the keeper. A seventh straight win for the Nervionenses, with all eyes now on the Copa del Rey semi final on Wednesday. However, they will anxiously await the news of Lucas Ocampos's injury.

SUMMARY

3. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Aleix Vidal, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Escudero (Franco Vázquez, 74'), Gudelj (Fernando, 46'), Joan Jordán, Óliver Torres (Munir, 65'), Suso (Rekik, 74'), Ocampos (Papu Gómez, 57') and En-Nesyri.

0. GETAFE CF: Rubén Yáñez, Damián Suárez, Djené, Chakla, Nyom, Maksimovic, Timor, Kubo (Cabaco, 59'), Cucurella, Mata (Ángel, 78') and Aleñá.

GOALS: 1-0, 67': Munir; 2-0, 86': Papu Gómez; 3-0, 88': En-Nesyri.

REFEREE: Juan Martínez Munuera, from Valencia. Bookings for Cucurella, Cabaco, Timor, Damián Suárez and Gudelj. Red cards for Djené, Julen Lopetegui and José Bordalás.