Match reports

5-2: A BREATH OF FRESH AIR WITH A ROUT LED BY WISSAM BEN YEDDER

10/03/2019

Sevilla FC come out of the bad run with scoring five goals against Real Sociedad in an intense game of football. The start to the second-half was key for a team which has kept themselves in the European spots

A perfect evening for Sevilla FC which helps put to bed the negative feelings that have surrounded the club since the start of the new year. After a first-half in which the team deserved to go into the break in the lead, the team came out all guns blazing for the second-half and scored three goals in 15 minutos which wrapped the game up. Helped on by a crowd which appreciated the team's effort, the team shined through their intensity and how clinical they were to defeat one of the best away sides in La Liga. With Europe on the horizon, Sevilla show that they are very much alive in the competition.

Sevilla began the game very intensely, ready to show that everything was in place to return to wining ways. However, the start of the game was not very precise and the team had difficulty putting together a fluid game. Real Sociedad noticed this quickly, the Basque side wanting to play the game on the counter when the space was there. After five minutes, Jesús Navas had the first chance but his shot was saved by a well-positioned Rulli. After 15 minutes, Sevilla's best chance at that point would arrive, with a Rulli save finding its way to Ben Yedder, however the goalkeeper was able to get up and save the Frenchman's strike with his feet and send it wide for a corner.

Sarabia opened the scoring, however Real Sociedad would only take three minutes to level the match up again

The goal came through Sarabia but with the Basque's side first chance they equalised. Only three minutes had passed since Sarabia's goal before Oyarzabal picked up the ball alone in the box and drilled a shot past Juan Soriano who could do nothing to save the shot due to its pace and accuracy. It was a hammer blow for a team in need of confidence and who would have to put themselves back in the lead once more. Indeed, Machín's team found it difficult to get going again, although the end of the first-half was a true siege by Sevilla. Munir, Promes and Ben Yedder were creating many problems up front, but Sergi Gómez would have the clearest chance, forcing Rulli into making an impressive save. The teams went into the break level but Sevilla had shown the determination they would need to win the match

The team put the disappointment of being level behind them and came out even stronger for the second-half. After only two minutes Ben Yedder had the chance to make it 2-1 but it was cleared off the line, before Mercado had a long-range strike which forced Rulli into action. One minute later, after Roque Mesa won the ball at the edge of Sociedad's box, Navas received the ball and played it into Ben Yedder who clipped it into the back of the net. It was a reward for Sevilla's insistence - they would not let the win get away from them. The team continued on top and did not let Real Sociedad out of their box and would soon get their third. Navas won a corner which Munir headed onto the bar. The ball dropped down onto the line and once more Ben Yedder was there to head it home, notching his double.

The game was wrapped up in a whirlwind 15 minutes at the start of the second-half

The chains were lifted off the team and they went on to provide a true exhibition for the fans. The team was switched on and the chances that weren't going in before now were. Ben Yedder rounded off his night after benefitting from a misplaced back-pass from Raúl Navas far from his goal. The Frenchman rounded Rulli and finished into the empty goal to wrap up the game with thirty minutes to go. Even set-pieces would go in the team's favour, with another corner getting headed on by Mercado before going in off Oyarzabal. Machín made the most of the situation to refresh the team, bringing on Silva, Gonalons and Bryan. It was an opportunity to see the French midfielder and the academy player, who did not disappoint, as well as giving a well-deserved send-off to Ben Yedder.

The remaining 20 minutes were calm, allowing the crowd to enjoy the team's play and let the team rest for Thursday's match. There was one more goal to come, this time as a result of a Mercado hand-ball in the box. Despite having his back turned to the ball, Iglesias Villanueva decided that it was intentional. Oyarzabal stepped up and scored a consolation goal for the Basques. Real Sociedad, who until the previous matchday had been unbeaten in 2019, had given up a long time ago. Sevilla kept on pushing and Bryan Gil showed real quality but the team decided to leave more goals for another occasion. With this excellent result, the team keep themselves in the European spots, four points from the Champions League and full of confidence to win in Prague and keep going in the Europa League. And may it stay that way.