2-2: SEVILLA FC TWO MINUTES AWAY FROM BREAKING THE CURSE AWAY TO MADRID

09/05/2021

A rebound in the last minute took the win from Sevilla in Madrid after Fernando had put the team in front and Rakitić had restored the lead following a Madrid equaliser

Sevilla FC were 120 seconds away from breaking a thirteen-year losing streak in Madrid. Sevilla went in front twice, but Madrid, who needed to win to go top of the league, managed to equalise on both occasions. After a draw in yesterday's match between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, it is as you were in the La Liga title race. Attentions now turn to Valencia's visit to Nervión on Wednesday.

Both teams were clear in how the match would start. Sevilla wanted to control possession and did so from the off, while Real Madrid based their game on hoping for a counterattack. This gave way to a start of a game which Sevilla completely controlled, but without troubling Courtois too much. Before Suso threatened with a long-range strike that went over, Benzema could have opened the scoring. With his first chance, he headed home from an Odriozola cross but the full-back was offside and VAR ruled out the goal.

Fernando put Sevilla in the lead after Benzema had a goal ruled out

Almost getting the opener seemed to motivate Zidane's men as they began to break free of Sevilla's dominance. However, the away side would get a valid opener from a set-piece. Navas whipped it in from the right, Rakitić headed it down and Fernando continued his form in front of goal to sit Casemiro down before slotting it past Courtois. Sevilla struck first and forced Madrid to come out. Casemiro and Vinicius had opportunities outside the box while Bono was forced into a save from Benzema. The home side pushed and Sevilla remained firm at the back and had one final chance of their own before the break as Jules Koundé headed a corner at Courtois.

Madrid came out all guns blazing but Acuña would have the first chance of the second half. Zidane's team pushed numbers into the box and the match became tougher for Julen Lopetegui's side. Modrić forced Bono into a save, while Ocampos, on the hour mark, responded with a counter that he did not manage to finish off. Vinicius threatened with a shot at Bono and a minute later the equaliser would arrive. Marcos Asensio, who had just come on, combined with Toni Kroos to shoot first time and beat Bono at his near post. Sevilla were in for it in a match that Madrid needed to win to move top of the league.

Both sides wanted a penalty, but Militao's clear handball happened first

The game-changing moment came in the 75th minute. Sevilla had a corner which ended with Benzema breaking free and Bono brought down the Frenchman. Martínez Munuera pointed to the spot, but VAR alerted him to a clear handball from Militao in Madrid's box. The referee went to review the play and confirmed what González González had brought to his attention, ruling out Madrid's penalty and giving one to Sevilla. Rakitić, the coolest man in the stadium, sent Sevilla into the lead with ten minutes to go. Lopetegui tried to control the match by bringing on reinforcements in Gudelj, Óscar, Óliver and De Jong. Unable to break Sevilla down, Madrid found the goal with a deflection.

Kroos shot, it hit off Eden Hazard and it went beyond Bono with barely two minutes left on the clock. A tough blow for Sevilla who were already imagining the three points. There are nine points up for grabs in a league which Atlético lead. Next up for Sevilla is Valencia in Nervión.

GAME SUMMARY

2. REAL MADRID: Courtois, Odriozola, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo (Miguel, 66'), Kroos, Casemiro, Modric (Asensio, 66'), Valverde, Vinicius Jr. (Hazard, 79') and Benzema.

2. SEVILLA FC: Bono; Jesús Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos, Acuña, Fernando, Joan Jordán (Gudelj, 84'), Rakitic (Óliver Torres, 88'), Suso (Óscar Rodríguez, 83'), Papu Gómez (En-Nesyri, 56') and Ocampos (De Jong, 88').

GOALS: 0-1, 22': Fernando; 1-1, 67': Asensio; 1-2, 78': Rakitic pen.; 2-2, 90+4': Hazard.

REFEREE: Juan Martínez Munuera. Yellows for Casemiro, Suso and Gudelj.