Sevilla has booked a business victory in LaLiga on Sunday evening. In the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán coach Julen Lopetegui’s team received a visit from Granada, which was beaten 2-1. Luuk de Jong got a starting spot and played for an hour in the Andalusian regional derby; Karim Rekik stayed on the couch for ninety minutes. Thanks to the fifth consecutive victory, Sevilla, which has 70 points, is still hoping for the national title. Number three Barcelona (71) beat Villarreal 1-2 earlier in the day, while Real Madrid (71) spilled points against Real Betis (0-0). Atlético Madrid (73) will play a game with Athletic Club later in the evening.
Lopetegui had two changes in store after the midweek victory over Levante (0-1): De Jong was preferred in the striker over club top scorer Youssef En-Nesyri, while Joan Jordán left the field for Ivan Rakitic. Sevilla scored the first chance of the match through Alejandro Papu Gómez, who was given room to lash out in a promising position, but shot just wide. Five minutes later, Gómez showed up again. The Argentinian was pushed in the back in the box by Maxime Gonalons, after which referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea pointed to the penalty spot. Rakitic took his responsibility and fired in the penalty kick convincingly: 1-0.
Halfway through the first act, De Jong was put into operation for the first time. After a nice action over the right flank, Jesús Navas delivered a cross to the Dutchman, who got his head against the ball but could not outwit goalkeeper Rui Silva. Ten minutes before the halftime signal, the closing post of Granada was tested again. This time it was Suso who tried his luck with a well-placed shot from outside the sixteen; Silva, however, dived the leather from the bottom left corner. Granada barely got around to playing football before half-time and Seville doubled the lead seven minutes after the break.
Gómez made it to the back line on the left side of the field and put the ball back on the edge of the box. After a switch from De Jong, it was Lucas Ocampos who slid in diagonally: 2-0. De Jong’s body movement was also his last achievement: after an hour of play, he left the field in favor of En-Nesyri. The home team was able to complete the game without having to make an excessive effort. Granada did find the connection goal in the final minute. After a handball from Marcos Acuña, Roberto Soldado was allowed to moor from eleven meters: the striker shot in the 2-1 coolly.
| No. | Team | M. | W. | G. | V. | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlético Madrid | 32 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 39 | 73 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 33 | 21 | 8 | 4 | 32 | 71 |
| 3 | Barcelona | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 71 |
| 4 | Seville | 33 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 23 | 70 |
| 5 | Real Sociedad | 32 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 16 | 50 |
| 6 | Real Betis | 33 | 14 | 8 | 11 | -3 | 50 |
| 7 | Villarreal | 33 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 49 |
| 8 | Granada | 32 | 12 | 6 | 14 | -12 | 42 |
| 9 | Celta de Vigo | 33 | 10 | 11 | 12 | -7 | 41 |
| 10 | Osasuna | 33 | 10 | 10 | 13 | -8 | 40 |
| 11 | Athletic Club | 31 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 38 |
| 12 | Levante | 33 | 9 | 11 | 13 | -8 | 38 |
| 13 | Cadiz | 33 | 9 | 10 | 14 | -21 | 37 |
| 14 | Valencia | 33 | 8 | 12 | 13 | -7 | 36 |
| 15 | Getafe | 33 | 8 | 10 | 15 | -13 | 34 |
| 16 | Alavés | 33 | 7 | 10 | 16 | -21 | 31 |
| 17 | Elche | 33 | 6 | 12 | 15 | -20 | 30 |
| 18 | Real Valladolid | 32 | 5 | 14 | 13 | -14 | 29 |
| 19 | Huesca | 33 | 5 | 12 | 16 | -19 | 27 |
| 20 | Eibar | 32 | 4 | 11 | 17 | -22 | 23 |
Date:Sunday, April 25, 2021, 6:30 PM
Stadium:Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium (Seville)
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