0-1: REAL MADRID TAKE ALL THREE POINTS WITH A SECOND-HALF GOAL

05/12/2020
The visitors were better in the first half and scored the only goal in the second half. Sevilla pushed late on but were unable to find an equaliser

Sevilla FC lost 1-0 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday evening against Real Madrid, with the only goal of the match coming from Bono. Vinicius got a foot on a cross from the left-hand side, with the ball hitting the Moroccan and rolling into the goal. The visitors dominated in the first half, and Vinicius, Kroos and Benzema all had chances to break the deadlock. Lopetegui's men pushed higher up in the second half, but the goal changed the outlook of the game and the hosts could not take any points. 

The first half started with a huge opportunity for Real Madrid to take an early lead. Within a minute, Vinicius had broken into the area from the right-hand side, but his low effort went just beyond the post. The visitors pressed high up the pitch and tested the Moroccan goalkeeper, who was back in the starting line-up. Bono had a clearance which was blocked by Vinicius, who could have converted from the resulting rebound, while Diego Carlos did just enough to stop Benzema from scoring a header. The Blanquirrojos struggled with the pressing, with the visitors attacking down the wings.

Benzema had a low, driven effort denied by Bono

Julen Lopetegui's men managed to push further up the pitch as the game went on, but after half-an-hour Zidane's side had the best chance of the match up until that point. Benzema found space on the edge of the box, but Bono got down low very quickly to get a hand to his low, driven effort, and pushed it round the post for a corner. Kroos had also gone close with a curling strike from distance, but that shot went narrowly wide. Sevilla FC, who primarily tried to create chances on the right through Jesús Navas and Ocampos, although without testing the visitors, only had one chance of note in the half, with De Jong firing over on the half turn. Munir was also injured in the last play of the half, and did not return for the second half. 

Sevilla came out better at the start of the second half, keeping hold of the ball and spending more time in Real Madrid's half. De Jong had the first chance of the half, but his powerful overhead kick was too close to Courtois to truly test him. Despite the good start, Zidane's men scored the decisive goal. Mendy broke away down the left and found Vinicius with a low cross, who just about got a touch on the ball, which then hit Bono and rolled into the back of the next. Lopetegui made a triple substitution just after the goal, with half-an-hour to go. 

Suso went close with a shot that curled just wide of Courtois' post

The hosts would not create a good opportunity until the 80th minute, with Suso nearly equalising with a sensational effort. He beat two defenders before trying to bend one into the top corner, but that shot flew just past the post. Idrissi then came on as the final substitution, with Lopetegui taking off Diego Carlos as the Nervionenses tried to equalise. They continued to persist, but Madrid dropped deep and gave the hosts very little space to create further chances. Ocampos also had an acrobatic effort denied well by Courtois, who tipped it wide for a corner. 

However, the Blanquirrojos were unable to beat Real Madrid, who were able to hold on for all three points. Sevilla FC have two away matches next week, travelling to Stade Rennais for a dead-rubber match in the UEFA Champions League Group Stage, before a clash in the capital against Getafe in LaLiga Matchday 13. 

MATCH SUMMARY

0. SEVILLA FC: Bono, Jesús Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos (Idrissi, 79'), Aleix Vidal, Fernando, Jordán (Gudelj, 62'), Rakitic (Suso, 62'), Ocampos, Munir (Óliver Torres, 46') and De Jong (En-Nesyri, 62').

1. REAL MADRID CF: Courtois, L. Vázquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Rodrygo (Asensio, 65'), Vinicius and Benzema.

GOALS: 0-1 Bono, own goal, 56'.

REFEREE: Sánchez Martínez, from Murcia. Yellows for Kroos, Modric, Gudelj and Vinicius.