Jesús Navas in action against Real Sociedad
Match reports

0-0: THE LACK OF GOALS BALANCED OUT BY DEFENSIVE SOLIDITY FOR A DRAW AT THE ANOETA

04/11/2018
The absence of André Silva and Ben Yedder made a difference for Sevilla in the final third at the Anoeta. Despite this, Real Sociedad barely threatened Vaclík's goal due to good defending from Machín's men. With no clear chances for either team, the draw was a fair result.

Sevilla FC go home from the Basque country with a well-fought point on Sunday evening against Real Sociedad. They were forced to contend with the absence of their leading scorers André Silva and Ben Yedder as well as Real Sociedad's eagerness to win in front of their home crowd. Sevilla were unable to create any clear-cut chances, but they also did not allow their opponents to create any chances of their own, nor were they pushed back by their opponents' attempts to press high up the pitch. The draw was probably the fair result in the end.

Sevilla FC went out with a clear game plan in the first half at the Anoeta: solid in defence with the inclusion of Amadou in the back-three and staying compact and working together to prevent Real Sociedad from having any opportunities. A clearance from Carriço which struck Sergi Gómez, sending the ball spinning towards Vaclík's goal, was the closest the Sevilla goal came to being threatened. In the opening minutes, a measured pass reached the feet of Juanmi in a good position but his shot was well wide of the Vaclík's goal.

 

Furthermore, Sevilla, who were in red for the evening, controlled the game and got into the Sociedad's final third through Jesús Navas on the right-wing and the incisive Promes on the left. Muriel had the ball in the net after a through ball from Franco Vázquez, but the Argentine had played the pass a split-second too late and the Colombian was left in an offside position. A powerful shot from Banega from outside the area forced Moyá into a good save minutes before the break.

Amadou helped out in the back three due to Mercado and Kjaer's injuries. Promes, with his speed, also had a cameo out on the left wing

Animated and ready to start the second-half, Promes went off on a mazy dribble down the right wing which ended in a corner. Januzaj, for the Basques, managed to break into the box and struck a powerful shot which went just wide. Machín brought on Escudero for Arana, who the Basques had managed to get behind on a few occasions.

Sociedad's clearest chance came, paradoxically, without a shot, as Sandro received a great pass but he struck the ground when one on one with Vaclík. In the dying embers of the game, Banega led a counter-attack following a Sociedad corner and played it to Roque Mesa who could not beat Moyá, bringing an end to a game from which Sevilla take a hard-earned point.

Sevilla FC welcome RCD Espanyol to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjúan next Sunday at 18:30, with Espanyol one of the top teams so far this season.

GAME SUMMARY

0. REAL SOCIEDAD: Moyá, Aritz, Llorente, Moreno, Theo Hernández, Zubeldia, Illarramendi, Oyarzábal (Zurutuza, 63'), Juanmi (Sandro, 69'), Januzaj and William José (Bautista, 88').

0. SEVILLA FC: Vaclik, Sergi Gómez, Carriço, Amadou, Jesús Navas, Arana (Escudero, 65'), Banega, Franco Vázquez, Sarabia, Promes and Muriel (Roque Mesa, 71').

GOALS: None.

REFEREE: Prieto Iglesias. Yellows for Jesús Navas, Amadou, Theo Hernández and Roque Mesa.