Match reports

0-0: A HEATED POINT

27/08/2018

A goalless draw between Sevilla and Villareal on an incredibly warm night to start off Sevilla's league campaign in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. Machín's team dominated the majority of the game and almost picked up the win in the last minutes of the game, but a determined Villarreal made life difficult for them. Escudero picked up a severe elbow injury after an unfortunate fall

The intense heat made it clear that we were at the start of the season, yet the game's intensity between two ambitious teams was remarkable. Sevilla and Villarreal fought in an even game which Sevilla began on the front foot but the lacked the finishing touch in front of Asenjo's goal. The clearest chances were André Silva's and Ben Yedder's which hit the post in injury time which could have decided the game. By then Sergio Escudero was no longer on the pitch, having been stretchered off with a serious injury to his left elbow. With four points out of six, and after Thursday's important European game, the next match is none other than the derby itself.

Mario Gaspar's booking after four minutes for bringing down Navas was a clear example of what would follow in the first half. With the incessant high temperatures, Villarreal opted for a more static game which only came to life when the forwards received the ball. Sevilla were more adventurous and their interchanges down the right wing were there best weapon. Roque Mesa gave off a warning with a strong shot, but the first half was not only a carousel of Sevilla chances. Despite this, around 15 minutes, André Silva had a great chance which he put just past the post.

André Silva brought the crowd to their feet early on, with a strong shot which went just past Asenjo's right post.

From there on Sevilla dominated, Roque Mesa was incessant with his pressing and he distributed the ball well out to the wings and with Banega. However, Sevilla didn't have it easy in front of the goal. Indeed, Javier Calleja's team was the closest to opening the scoring through a shot by Toko Ekambi. The Cameroonian shot from range, like Fornals had done shortly before. But his most clear chance was when he broke down the right wing, beating Sergi Gómez and shooting from a tight angle. The goalkeeper, very composed, saved the shot. These shots brought Villarreal to life after Sevilla's domination in the first half.

Things didn't change in the second half, and other than a shot over the bar from André Silva, Villarreal began to take charge and put Vaclik to work. The former Basel goalkeeper saved his team by saving from Bacca who received a good pass from Gerard Moreno. Just before this Kjaer was the hero by blocking a shot from Fornals, who had profited from Banega losing the ball in the midfield. From here on, Machín looked for more physicality and brought on Gonalons and Aleix Vidal for Banega and Vázquez, who struggled to find the finishing touch he had last week in Vallecas. And when Sevilla's coach had his third change ready, bringing on Ben Yedder, a chilling moment changed his plans.

Machín looked for more physicality and brought on Gonalons and Aleix Vidal, with Escudero having to come off later for Ben Yedder

Sergio Escudero, on the left wing, jumped to beat Raba to the ball, however, he fell unable to support himself. Bad luck resulted in all of his weight falling on his left arm, causing his elbow to turn in on itself, leaving an image better not seen if you're squeamish. Although the crowd seemed affected by the injury, Sevilla did improve in the last minutes and had two clear opportunities to get the extra two points. First, André Silva failed to finish off Mercado's pass in the six-yard box. Immediately after, Ben Yedder struck Asenjo's right post with a very strong shot.

At the end of the day, a point which brings our total up to four from six should be valued as it keeps Sevilla high in the league. Tomorrow will see us start the week of the Derby, although until Friday it will be difficult to focus on the visit to the Benito Villamarín. Before that, we'll have to face Sigma Olomouc in the final leg of the Europa League Play-off Round. Sigma aren't going through their best moment in the league and are coming into the tie 1-0 down following their defeat in the Andruv Stadion.

GAME SUMMARY

0 - SEVILLA FC: Vaclik, Jesús Navas, Mercado, Kjaer, Sergi Gómez, Escudero (Ben Yedder, 83'), Roque Mesa, Banega (Gonalons, 63'), Sarabia, Franco Vázquez (Aleix Vidal, 63') and André Silva.
0 - VILLARREAL CF: Asenjo, Mario Gaspar, Alvaro, Cáseres, Víctor Ruiz, Fornals (Jaume Costa, 61'), Trigueros, Pedraza, Cazorla (Raba, 78'), Ekambi (Carlos Bacca, 62') and Gerard Moreno.
GOLES: 0-0
OFFICIALS: Undiano Mallenco. Yellows for Mario Gaspar, Jaume Costa, Mercado, Sarabia and Kjaer.