Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 8:41 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme

Sevilla and Red Bull Salzburg provided a true spectacle on Tuesday evening in the first group match of the Champions League: 1-1. The game was characterized by penalty kicks, of which no fewer than four (!) were given in the first half. That has never happened before in the first half of a Champions League game. However, only two of the four penalties were used. Karim Adeyemi was a great teasing spirit for Sevilla and became the first player to score three penalties. Youssef En-Nesyri was shown the red card five minutes after the break.

An extremely remarkable first half resulted in no fewer than four penalty kicks in the game between Sevilla and RB Salzburg on Tuesday evening. After fifteen minutes of play, referee Aleksei Kulbakov put the ball on the spot for the first time, after Karim Adeyemi was knocked out in the enemy’s box. The latter took his place behind the ball, but shot wide. When the Austrians were awarded another penalty via Adeyemi just ten minutes later, Luka Sucic took responsibility. The midfielder did hit. On the stroke of half-time, at the third penalty moment, Sucic also failed, after which Ivan Rakitic equalized the score from the spot on the stroke of half: 1-1.

Never before have four penalties been awarded in the first half of a Champions League match. In the end, the visitors were most dissatisfied with the division of points, as Sevilla had to continue with ten men five minutes after the break due to an indirect red card for Youssef En-Nesyri. The attacker received a yellow card halfway through the first half and was able to press in shortly after the break after a second print. Just before that, Benjamin Sesko Salzburg failed to take the lead for the second time. The attacker shot goalkeeper Bono in a promising position.

Salzburg went on the hunt for the winning goal for the remainder of the match, but was inaccurate in the completion. Oumar Solet shot over and Brenden Aaronson found Bono in his way. Sevilla countered a good opportunity from Rafa Mir in the second half. However, the attacker did not see his header be promoted to a goal. Érik Lamela’s header went wide of the left post. At Sevilla, Karim Rekik remained on the bench for the entire game.