Match reports

4-0: HEADED FOR HUNGARY WITH THE JOB ALMOST DONE

26/07/2018

Pablo Machín capped his competitive debut as Sevilla FC manager with an impressive 4-0 win over Újpest FC. With the job almost done in the Q2 Europa League qualifying tie, Sevilla will be able to travel to Budapest with confidence for the return leg next Thursday

Sevilla FC debuted impressively in the 2018/19 edition of the Europa League this Thursday evening, all but sentencing their Q2 qualifying tie with Újpest FC with a convincing 4-0 win. Though the visitors showed good positioning in spells and good pace that threatened on the counter attack, the Nervionenses were superior and spent practically the whole match in the opposition's half. Next Thursday at 21:00 CET, Sevilla will need to finish the job in Budapest. Should all go according to plan, a tie with Zalgiris or Vaduz is on the cards in a Q3 round tie. In a Sánchez-Pizjuán filled by 30,000 onlookers, Sevilla and Pablo Machín passed their first test.

From the very start it was clear that Sevilla were out to dominate the first-leg of the tie, and they didn't take long in getting forward and peppering the goal of Pajovic. On just four minutes Nolito went close, firing over with a side-footed volley after a Sevilla corner. Just three minutes later, Navas would find the opener. Mesa found him with impressive vision and technique and Navas blasted to the far corner with his right. Újpest looked to respond, keeping Vaclík's attention in the Sevilla goal but hardly creating chances to trouble the debuting keeper.

From the very start it was clear that Sevilla were out to dominate the first-leg of the tie

Sevilla continued to dominate and now looked to improve. Ben Yedder would go close twice in quick succession and Navas would fire powerfully again at goal with a half-volley, but the deficit remained just one. That would all change when Pauljevic brought down Sarabia with the Spanish winger one on one with Pajovic. The last man, the referee would have no choice but to issue a straight red for Pauljevic and a penalty for Sevilla. Ben Yedder would step up and make no mistake. With the first-half ticking away, Sevilla would take advantage of their extra man just before the whistle. Two minutes before the break, Sarabia would finish off a lethal Sevilla move to put the home side three up. A magnificent ball forward from the back would find Navas in behind the defence and the Sevilla legend would selflessly set up Sarabia for a simple finish. Half-time - things looking good.

Come the restart, Sevilla slipped back into the comfortable pattern they had built in the first 45 minutes. Újpest started to focus on damage control, now sitting tight and denying chances. Sevilla remained dominant in possession, space and fight. Navas would have another chance early in the going but the Sevilla legend couldn't find the luck needed to bag a brace. With Machín still wanting to give minutes to as many players as possible so early in the season, Corchia would replace Navas soon after. He would be joined by a debuting Pejiño - who showed sparks of brilliance in his 20 minutes on the field - and Borja Lasso, who delivered calm on the ball in the dying minutes.

It seemed as though Sevilla would have to settle for three when Sarabia had a second goal disallowed for a tight offside call but late in stoppage time, Mudo Vázquez would stoop down to head in skilfully to add an exclamation point on an impressive performance. Job done, bring on Budapest.

MATCH SUMMARY

4 SEVILLA FC: Vaclík, Carriço, Nico Pareja, Escudero, Jesús Navas (Corchia, 58), Arana (Borja Lasso, 76), Roque Mesa, Franco Vázquez, Sarabia (Pejiño, 69), Nolito, Ben Yedder.

0 ÚJPEST FC: Pajovic, Pauljevic, Bojovic, Litauski, Burekovic, Sankovic, Diallo, Nwobodo, Zsoter (Horj, 64), Nagy (Balazs, 33), Novothny.

GOALS: 1-0, minute 7: Jesús Navas. 2-0, minute 32: Ben Yedder pen. 3-0, minute 42: Sarabia. 4-0 Vázquez, minute 92.