Óliver Torres of Sevilla FC against SD Eibar

0-1: A STRONG EIBAR CONDEMN SEVILLA TO THEIR FIRST HOME DEFEAT IN 2020

24/10/2020
Sevilla fell into Eibar's trap in the first half and could not find the equaliser, despite three clear opportunities, when the away side became more fatigued

A frustrating match for Sevilla FC against SD Eibar. The team did not score for the third match running and, to make matters worse, Eibar's gameplan worked for them as they sneaked a goal just before half time. Sevilla dominated the ball in the second half and had clear chances to at least get a draw. However, the goal would not come against an in-form Dmitrovic and the team suffer their first defeat at home in 2020, after losing against Villarreal in December 2019.

Lopetegui reiterated in the days before the game Eibar would be a very difficult opponent. Last year's incredibly hard worked win was evidence of that. Despite a different team, with the addition of Sevillistas Pozo and Bryan, Eibar were similar to that team from last year and were able to direct the match to their desire. The game enjoyed little fluidity, neither team arrived much to the box and Sevilla held the ball but could do little with it. Both teams only had one shot on target in the entirety of the first half.

In the first half there were only two shots on target and Eibar made the most of theirs

Arbilla had a shot from outside the box which skimmed past the post, before Munir replied ten minutes from the break which forced Dmitrovic to turn the ball around for a corner. While Eibar were controlling Sevilla's attack well, they were offering little up front as well. That is until four minutes from the break when Bryan and Diop combined to set Kike García free who beat Sergi Gómez and shot high into Vaclík's goal.
 

Ocampos came on for Gómez after the break, with Gudelj dropping back to centre-back. The face of the game changed, becoming more back and forth and Sevilla having three times as many shots in mere minutes. Five minutes after the break, En-Nesyri had an excellent chance, with Munir setting the Moroccan up after a quick break but the striker did not make the most of it. Shortly after Munir himself had a chance after a corner, but Dmitrovic was wise to it. Mendilibar also changed this team around to make the most of their counter attacks with Enrich up front as the team took a breather and slowed the game down.

En-Nesyri and Ocampos had the best chances to equalise

The game was coming to its end and Lopetegui made more changes to keep the pressure up, introducing Suso and Carlos Fernández. The home side kept pushing but rarely worried Dmitrovic. The pressure didn't mount to any chances as En-Nesyri's earlier opportunity. The team would have to wait to injury time to have two good chances. With Franco Vázquez and Luuk de Jong on the pitch, Fernández heading down to Dmitrovic's left but the 'keeper turned it away. From the resulting corner, Ocampos had an excellent chance, but he miscued his shot right in front of goal.

The result brought about Sevilla's first home defeat in 2020. Furthermore, after an eight-month unbeaten streak, the team have now lost two games in a row after the defeat to Granada. The team will have to get back up and focus on the Champions League on Wednesday at home against Rennes, who also lost in Ligue 1 this Friday.

GAME SUMMARY

0. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Jesús Navas, Sergi Gómez (Ocampos, 46'), Diego Carlos, Acuña, Gudelj, Rakitic (Franco Vázquez, 80'), Óliver Torres, Munir (De Jong, 80'), Óscar Rodríguez (Suso, 70') and En-Nesyri (Carlos Fernández, 70').

1. SD EIBAR: Dmitrovic, Pozo, Oliveira, Burgos, Arbilla, Diop, Sergio, Inui, Rodrigues (Enrich, 61'), Bryan Gil (Pedro León, 85') and Kike García (Edu Expósito, 73').

GOALS: 0-1, 41': Kike García.

REFEREE: Alejandro Hernández Hernández. Yellows for Rodrigues, José Luis Mendilibar, Edu Expósito and Pedro León.