Match reports

1-1: DIAKHABY ROBS MACHÍN'S SEVILLA OF THREE POINTS

08/12/2018

The win was in Sevilla's grasp at Mestalla after a tough contest and a performance worthy of a win. However, three points slipped out of the grasp of Machín's men in the last play of the game. Diakhaby's equaliser cancelled out Sarabia's opener

Two points slipped away from Sevilla FC at Mestalla this Saturday afternoon after Pablo Machín's men looked to all the world like they'd done enough against Marcelino's Valencia. Sarabia gave Sevilla a deserved lead just after half-time but a header from Diakhaby in added time robbed Sevilla of the advantage and the side head home with one point rather than three. The woodwork denied the visitors twice on what turned out to be an unfortunate afternoon for the Nervionenses.

In need of points, Valencia came out strong, peppering Vaclik early and forcing a magnificent double save from the Sevilla star. Mina and Garay had fired warning shots very early on but as the early flurry subsided, the visitors grew into the game. Chances were few in what looked to be a cagey affair.

Pablo Sarabia's fine form continued with another goal to add to his tally

Machín's men kept their concentration levels up and would enjoy good spells of possession before beginning to win better sights of the Valencia goal. In the midst of the back and forth action, a tasty one-touch Sevilla counter-attack saw Ben Yedder find some space in the opponent's box before the ball was nicked from under him; but the Nervionenses were getting closer. With Valencia responding through the explosiveness of Guedes but with no concrete chances to show for, the home side would have to settle for unbroken deadlock in the first-half. Vázquez picked up the fifth booking of the season which means he'll be out of the side's away trip to Girona.

With more pace after the restart, Sevilla would only need ten minutes to find that illusive breakthrough they'd been missing in the first-half. A scuffed Wissam Ben Yedder volley would fall kindly for Pablo Sarabia who nicked in at the near post to find a way past Neto and continue his magnificent run of form.

The breakthrough breathed new life into Sevilla, who emerged as the superior side with just over an hour played. A Ben Yedder-driven counter attack saw Vázquez with the chance to widen the deficit but the Argentine would fire over. Banega would be the next to go close but would hit the woodwork. Valencia, meanwhile, would be forced into changes, with Diakhaby, Batshuayi and Cheryshev all coming on from the bench.

Banega and André Silva came closest to finding a second goal but the woodwork would frustrate both Sevillistas

Looking for muscle in the centre of the park, Machín switched Vázquez for Amadou - a change that would see Sevilla look to quash any chance of a Valencia revival. Wass would have a chance for the hosts after a good ball from the Russian substitute Cheryshev but would fire inches wide. Closer still to finding a second goal in the game was André Silva, who, after a fine counter-attack driven by Promes, would hit the post when one on one with Neto.

Valencia would make the missed chance pay deep in stoppage time, when Diakhaby headed the hosts level from a free-kick. Minutes away from a first win at Mestalla in six years and minutes away from reclaiming leadership of La Liga, the equaliser certainly stung but there'll be no time to lick wounds, with a huge Europa League fixture coming up this Thursday against Krasnodar.

MATCH SUMMARY

1. VALENCIA CF: Neto, Wass, Gayá, Gabriel Paulista (Diakhaby, 63), Garay, Parejo, Guedes (Cheryshev, 61), Carlos Soler, Coquelin, Santi Mina (Batshuayi, 69), Rodrigo.

1. SEVILLA FC: Vaclik, Mercado, Kjaer, Sergi Gómez, Promes, Escudero, Sarabia, Banega, Franco Vázquez, Ben Yedder (Muriel, 85) y André Silva.

GOALS: 0-1 Sarabia, 55. 1-1 Diakhaby, 92.