Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 21:24• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk • Last update: 21:27

Sevilla dropped the first points in LaLiga on Saturday. The team of trainer Julen Lopetegui did not go further than a 1-1 draw with PhD candidate Elche on the third day of play and is now one of three shared leaders with seven points. Karim Rekik formed the heart of the defense together with Diego Carlos, as Jules Koundé was missing. Luuk de Jong was not part of the match selection of the South Spaniards.

There is a chance that Sevilla and Chelsea will reach an agreement on a transfer from Koundé to London one of these days. The defender did not miss any minutes of the first two league games against Rayo Vallecano (0-3) and Getafe (1-0), but this time both sides chose not to take any risks with a view to a possible transfer. Rekik and Diego Carlos were therefore also the only two central defenders that Lopetegui had at his disposal.

In the first 45 minutes Sevilla had the most chances, but Elche was the team that needed few chances to score. After eleven minutes it was already a hit for the home team: after a wonderful cross by Fidel, Enzo Roco worked the ball past the out-bound goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Five minutes before the break, Lopetegui’s team tied the score. After a good free kick from Marcos Acuña on the left, Youssef En-Nesyri headed the ball into the right corner behind goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.

That was also the final score, as the teams failed to score after the break. In the last thirty minutes Rafa Mir, Alejandro Papu Gómez, Erik Lamela and debutant Thomas Delaney made their appearance, but that had no effect. The Andalusians’ most danger came from En-Nesyri, but a second goal was not in it for the Moroccan international. Oussama Idrissi came in for Joan Jordán shortly before time. After the international match, Sevilla awaits a home game with Barcelona.