3-1: A QUICK TWO-GOAL FLURRY GIVES US THE ADVANTAGE HEADING TO ZAGREB

After a two-year break, the UEFA Europa League is back at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. It's a special competition for the club and the team had the best possible start to attempt to secure their place in the last-16 draw next week. Goals from Rakitić, Ocampos and Martial were enough to overcome Dinamo who briefly levelled affairs just before the break. However, there was enough time to Sevilla to break Croatian hearts as a quick two-goal flurry had us go into the break 3-1 up. The team attacked less in the second half and Bono pulled out a stunning double save to maintain the two-goal advantage. Another talking point of the night was Navas' return who came on for Ocampos in the final minutes.

People were waiting to see if the removal of the away goals rule would result in a different style of football in the knock-out legs. Although a goal for Dinamo would not have been important as in previous years, the Croatian side did come out with the intention to attack Bono's goal. Orsic had the first chance of the game with eight minutes on the clock which Bono tipped around for a corner. Sevilla's first chance was decisive however, as it resulted in the opener of the night. Rakitić played a great pass into Martial, who played it into the box. Livakovic managed to divert it, but only into the path of the onrushing Papu who was fouled by the 'keeper as he chipped it over him. Rakitić took the responsibility and banished the demons of the missed penalty against Osasuna. 

Orsic's equaliser only spurred Sevilla on as they managed to go into the break with a two nil league 

Sevilla started to grow into the game after the goal and Munir came close with a shot troubling the keeper, but the game started to slow down and less action was seen in both areas. The only other chance came before the break which saw Ademi almost equalise. With only four minutes to play until the interval, Diego Carlos failed to clear a through ball at the far post and Orsic was able to pounce onto the pass. The striker took the ball down and placed it down low past the scurrying Bono to put the tie back on level terms. With things seeming all tied and ready for the break, the Sevilla team didn't rest on their morals and a minute later they would find themselves back in the lead. 

Rakitić sent a cross into the box that would fall to Ocampos at the back post. The Argentine, now operating on the left wing, put everything behind his shot which would see it go into the back of the net off a slight deflection that would divert Livakovic to give Sevilla a 2-1 lead. Later in the closing stages, now in added time, Sevilla were on the counter attack again and the ball would fall to Martial who pulled away to the right hand side. Eager to score a goal since his debut, the man from France couldn't fail and put Sevilla 3-1 up in an amazing finish to the first half. The second half started poorly with Rekik's upsetting injury, who pulled up after a sprint and had to be substituted for Gudelj at the fiftieth minute mark.

The injury to Rekik was the only black mark in a second half in which Sevilla controlled

And with Sevilla staying resolute, Bono also played his part with the double save of the night. First the header from Petkovic and then the follow up rom Juric, a moment that got the crowd off their seats in admiration of the Moroccan’s reflexes. Lopetegui refreshed the team with the arrivals of Óliver, Delaney and En-Nesyri, which helped Sevilla to dominate while Dinamo tried to find something in response. It was Ocampos who had a run but Livakovic got back to stop him. From then on Sevilla didn’t create to much in a game in which both sides were cautious in the second half. There was time for a great welcome as Jesús Navas came on for Ocampos in the final few minutes.  

A happy return to the Europa League but the job still needs to be finished at the Stadion Maksimir next Thursday. A match in which three Sevilla players will have to be careful after Acuña was booked as well as Diego Carlos, Delaney and Ocampos who will be close to suspension. The left back will miss the game at Espanyol through suspension, the next game for Lopetegui’s side this Sunday at Cornellá-El Prat. It will be just after the journey to Cataluña when it will be time to turn attention back to the UEL and the chance to go through to the last 16 of the tournament.

GAME SUMMARY

3. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Koundé, Rekik (Gudelj, 50'), Diego Carlos, Acuña, Fernando (Óliver Torres, 61'), Papu Gómez, Rakitic, Ocampos (Jesús Navas, 84'), Munir (Delaney, 61') and Martial (En-Nesyri, 61').

1. GNK DINAMO ZAGREB: Livakovic, Théophile-Catherine (Lauritsen, 46'), Sutalo, Franjic, Gojak, Ademi, Ristovski (Moharrami, 76'), Bockaj (Stefulj, 70'), Juric (Emreli, 57'), Orsic and Petkovic (Spikic, 76').

GOALS: 1-0, 13': Rakitic pen.; 1-1, 41': Orsic; 2-1, 44': Ocampos; 3-1, 45+1': Martial.

REFEREE: Marco Guida. Yellows for Livakovic, Petkovic, Ristovski and Acuña.