Franco Vázquez of Sevilla FC against Real Madrid

Match reports

2-0: THE RUN AT THE SANTIAGO BERNABÉU CONTINUES

19/01/2019

Sevilla FC were defeated in Madrid in a game marked by the home side's dominance in the second half, which resulted in Casemiro and Modric's goals at the end. Machín's men drop down from third place before welcoming Barcelona to Sevilla in the cup

The Santiago Bernabéu remains cursed for Sevilla FC. Sevilla lost third place this Saturday to Real Madrid during a game in which they suffered throughout. Despite improving midway through the first half, Solari's team ended up retaking control of the game and winning at the end through Casemiro and Modric's goals. It's time to get back to winning ways in the league next week against Levante UD at home.

The match started the same way as do so many matches at the Bernabéu. Sevilla had to defend deep against an energetic Madrid and who were able to test Vaclík right from the off. In fact, after five minutes, Vinicius found himself one-on-one against the Czech. Thankfully, the Brazilian rushed his shot and did not place it, allowing Vaclík to palm it away. The home team's dominance slowly began to decrease and Sevilla began to take more control of the game and to look for their strikers.

Escudero had Sevilla's best chance in a game in which they had few chances

With an active Navas on the right, the best chance of the first half fell to Escudero on the opposite wing after a quick counter sprung by Ben Yedder who played it into the Spaniard. With Courtois in front of him, the wing-back tried to slide it in at the near post but ended up hitting the side netting. Shortly after André Silva had a header, but Sevilla's good spell was coming to an end as the break approached. After a stoppage for a clash of heads between Franco Vázquez and Modric, Madrid caused danger again through long-range shots by Benzema and Vinicius.

Solari's team retook the initiative after the break, controlling possession and keeping Vaclík on his toes at all moments. Modric put a shot just wide, brushing the post after deflecting off Sergi Gómez, while Sevilla struggled to create much on the counter. Machín's team seemed to react when Dani Ceballos, with a shot from distance, hit the bar. The game was three-quarters of the way through and no substitutes had come on yet.

With the start of the second half the game returned back to how it was at the start, with Madrid pressing

The first to make a change was Sevilla's manager, opting to bring on speed in attack with Quincy Promes, replacing a Ben Yedder who received little service. Almost immediately after it was Munir's turn, coming on for André Silva. Casemiro then went close with a header that went just past the post. Shortly after the Brazilian would have his goal with a long but powerful strike twelve minutes before the end. There was no other choice other than to push for the draw but Madrid were comfortable with the extra spaces created.

Bryan was the last change to change the game, but there was little time left and the match did not switch back into Sevilla's hands. Modric ended up sealing the game in injury time after taking advantage of a defensive mistake. This defeat makes it four matches without a win in the league, meaning Madrid have taken Sevilla's third place from them. With none other than Barcelona visiting Sevilla in the cup on Wednesday, the next league match will be in Nervión against Levante.

GAME SUMMARY

2. REAL MADRID: Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Reguilón, Casemiro, Modric, Ceballos (Fede Valverde, 87'), Lucas Vázquez (Isco, 77'), Vinicius and Benzema.

0. SEVILLA FC: Vaclík; Carriço, Kjaer, Sergi Gómez, Jesús Navas, Banega, Escudero (Bryan, 86'), Franco Vázquez, Sarabia, André Silva (Munir, 75') and Ben Yedder (Promes, 71').

GOALS: 1-0, 78': Casemiro; 2-0, 90+2': Modric.

OFFICIAL: Antonio Mateu Lahoz. Yellows for Carriço, Benega, Kjaer, Casemiro and Dani Ceballos.