Match reports

1-3: A VERY PROFESSIONAL JOB TO LEAVE THE TIE IN OUR HANDS

10/01/2019

Nolito, who had a brilliant game up front, put Sevilla in front and assisted their other two goals by André Silva and Ben Yedder respectively

Sevilla have left the Round of 16 knock-out tie in the Copa del Rey against Athletic Bilbao very much in their favour. Even with a lot of rotation from Pablo Machín's usual starting eleven, Sevilla played a very professional game in which they went ahead very early on to take control of it, only facing difficulties at the start of the second half when the home side levelled. Now they must finish the tie off in the Sánchez-Pizjuán to move onto the quarter finals.

Sevilla took the lead early in the first half, only seven minutes had passed when Nolito slotted home a wonderful through ball from Franco Vázuez. Mercado cleared a ball which André Silva took down, before playing it to the Argentine who played the ball into the Spaniard. Barely a minute later, the Portuguese won another aerial duel and played it to Vázquez but he committed a foul against Unai Simón. Sevilla, with this goal, put themselves in charge of the game, safe in the knowledge they had secured an away goal.

Nolito opened the scoring following a brilliant pass from Vázquez and VAR ruled out Aduriz' goal for offside

Athletic tried to advance towards Juan Soriano's goal, but Nolito would get another chance after a great dribble from Franco Vázquez from his own half, before playing it to Promes who crossed with his right foot to Nolito who's effort was at the 'keeper. Athletic's only chance came a few minutes before the break. Everything seemed to indicate that Aduriz had benefited from Juan Soriano's hasty clearance and levelled the match, but VAR detected an offside in the play leading up to the goal, meaning Sevilla went into the break one up.

The home side had a strong start to the second half in search for an equaliser which soon came. After an initial warning from Muniain with a bicycle kick that went just wide of Soriano's right post, Mikel San José headed home a corner to level things up in the San Mamés. Athletic took the initiative and pushed Sevilla into their box. But Sevilla showed the best way to escape from such pressure: Nolito, after a superb recovery from Amadou, turned assister as he played in André Silva who perfectly finished his one-on-one with Simón.

André Silva crushed Bilbao's hopes after their equaliser and Ben Yedder killed the game minutes after coming on

Machín's men returned to the fore and Athletic were deflated after their strong start. Both managers rotated from the bench and minutes went by in the game. Once more, Wissam Ben Yedder demonstrated his importance and the run of form he is in minutes after coming on. The French striker collected Nolito's pass and thrashed the ball past Simón in goal. The tie is left in Sevilla's hands, who now prepare for their league clash on Sunday.

The match leaves Sevilla with a strong advantage for next Wednesday's match at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán at 20:30 CET to seal their passage into the Copa del Rey quarter finals.

GAME SUMMARY

1. ATHLETIC CLUB: Unai Simón, Núñez, Yeray, San José, Capa, Balenziaga, Guruzeta, Iturraspe, Córdoba (Williams, 65'), Susaeta and Aduriz (Muniain, 41').

3. SEVILLA FC: Juan Soriano, Kjaer, Carriço, Mercado, Arana, Promes, Amadou, Roque Mesa (Banega, 54'), Franco Vázquez (Sarabia, 74'), Nolito and André Silva (Ben Yedder, 68').

GOALS: 0-1 Nolito, 6'. 1-1 San José, 49'. 1-2 André Silva, 53'. 1-3 Ben Yedder, 77'.

OFFICIAL: Del Cerro Grande. Yellows for San José, Roque Mesa and Franco Vázquez.