Sevilla was not able to get out of the big worries in LaLiga on Friday. The team of Jorge Sampaoli, PSV’s opponent in the play-offs of the Europa League, did not get further than a 1-1 draw at Celta de Vigo. Sevilla is eighteenth after only two victories this season, a place that would lead to relegation. Celta is also in trouble and is sixteenth, with only one point more.
It is restless this season at Sevilla, which surprisingly entered the World Cup break below the relegation line in LaLiga. In recent weeks, there would have been a fight about the transfer policy between technical director Monchi and trainer Jorge Sampaoli, who saw Isco’s contract dissolved. For now, there is no replacement for the playmaker. World Cup visitors Yassine Bounou, Nemanja Gudelj, Youssef En-Nesyri and World Cup winner Marcos Acuña did return to the base. At Celta, Fran Beltrán was preferred in midfield to former Feyenoord player Renato Tapia.
World Cup hero Yassine Bounou defeated! ?? Youth product Gabri Veiga cuts through the Sevilla defense and finishes it: 1-0 for Celta de Vigo ??#ZiggoSport #LaLiga #CeltaSevilleFC pic.twitter.com/0vjE0U69Mx
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) December 30, 2022
Jørgen Strand Larsen, who was brought from FC Groningen to Celta in the summer, had a huge opportunity after 25 minutes. The Norwegian seemed to score after an excellent pass from Óscar Mingueza, but aimed just wide. Eight minutes later, the center of the defense of Seville was completely open. Gabri Veiga was able to walk through from the center line and put the ball beautifully over Bounou: 1-0. The visitors couldn’t do anything against that in the first half.
After the break, Sevilla’s game got a little better, although Larsen had the first chance in the second half. Bounou saved one-on-one with the centre-forward. On the other side, goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin made a nice save on an attempt by Erik Lamela. A few seconds later, in the 54th minute, the ball went in after all, when Kike Salas headed in from a corner kick by Joan Jordan: 1-1. Sevilla then had the initiative, but was unable to force another goal. A few minutes before the end, José Ángel Carmona picked up a stupid second yellow card with an unnecessary tackle on Iago Aspas. Celta continued in an attempt to take advantage of the surplus situation, but did not become dangerous despite the pressure created.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | v | +/- | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 14 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 37 |
| 2 | RealMadrid | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 35 |
| 3 | Atletico Madrid | 15 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 27 |
| 4 | real society | 14 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 26 |
| 5 | Athletic Club | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 25 |
| 6 | RealBetis | 15 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 25 |
| 7 | Rayo Vallecano | 15 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 23 |
| 8 | Osasuna | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 23 |
| 9 | Villarreal | 14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 21 |
| 10 | valencia | 14 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 19 |
| 11 | Real Majorca | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | -2 | 19 |
| 12 | Girona | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -2 | 17 |
| 13 | Almeria | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 17 |
| 14 | Getafe | 15 | 4 | 5 | 6 | -6 | 17 |
| 15 | Real Valladolid | 14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | -8 | 17 |
| 16 | Celta de Vigo | 15 | 3 | 4 | 8 | -12 | 13 |
| 17 | Espanyol | 14 | 2 | 6 | 6 | -6 | 12 |
| 18 | Seville | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -9 | 12 |
| 19 | Cadiz | 15 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -17 | 12 |
| 20 | Elche | 15 | 0 | 4 | 11 | -23 | 4 |