Sevilla stand up to a combative Espanyol performance

Sevilla FC overcame RCD Espanyol 3-2 on matchday 21 of the Liga BBVA season, a result that ensures that, with 42 points, Unai Emery’s team hold onto fourth place in the table.

The Catalans took the lead through a Christian Stuani goal from the penalty spot, after the Andalusians’ goalkeeper, Beto, was adjudged to have taken down Salva Sevilla inside the box. However, the visitors’ celebrations were short lived when Diogo caught Kiko Casilla off guard with a powerful long-range shot. Vitolo put the finishing touches to an Iago Aspas assist ten minutes later, thereby turning the scoreboard on its head in an opening half Unai Emery’s men dominated. But that was not to be the only upset Sergio González’s side were to suffer, as Espanyol found themselves down to ten men just before the break when Kiko Casilla handled the ball outside the area.

The intensity persisted into the second half with Sevilla wasting opportunities that almost cost them dearly later on. The home team hit the woodwork twice, once through a Vicente Iborra effort and then from an Aspas strike, which kept the Catalans in the game. During a period of high Andalusian pressure, Víctor Sánchez popped up to finish off a counter-attacking move and grab an equaliser for Espanyol. Sevilla did not throw in the towel and continued to bombard the opponents’ goal, a strategy that finally paid off when Aspas made it 3-2 to the delight of the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.