Sevilla Archives

Robert Lewandowski scores brace to power Barcelona to victory over Sevilla

Robert Lewandowski and Pablo Torre struck twice each as Barcelona hammered Sevilla 5-1 on Sunday to stay three points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga ahead of next weekend’s Clasico.

Los Blancos beat Celta Vigo on Saturday to pull level with Hansi Flick’s side but Barca swiftly restored their advantage with a dominant display of attacking football.

Veteran striker Lewandowski reached 12 goals in 10 La Liga matches, his strikes sandwiching Pedri Gonzalez’s effort from the edge of the box before substitute Torre added the fourth.

Stanis Idumbo grabbed a consolation for Sevilla in the final stages but Francisco Garcia Pimienta’s side were roundly beaten on his return to the club he spent nearly three decades in various roles.

Torre finished the rout with a crossed free-kick which flew beyond Nyland and in at the far post.

“(It was) very important, given the games ahead, but this was an important game (too) and we got the three points,” Pedri told Movistar.

“Just before the game, the coach said the space was just outside the area and I had the luck (to score).”

Despite upcoming clashes against Bayern Munich in the Champions League and Saturday’s visit to the Santiago Bernabeu, Flick started arguably his strongest fit and available side.

The coach was able to name Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez and Gavi on the bench after injury, the latter sidelined since November 2023 following a knee operation.

Ansu Fati started for the first time this season after Eric Garcia felt discomfort in the warm-up, with Raphinha shifting into a central attacking midfield position.

Lamine Yamal, starting after recovering from a minor hamstring strain which saw Spain release him from international duty early, curled off target early on after a spritely burst past two Sevilla players.

The Catalans took the lead when Raphinha went down in the box under light contact from Peque, a former Barca youth player, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Robert Lewandowski, stuttering in his run-up, sent Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland the wrong way to fire Barca ahead.

The 36-year-old striker is enjoying a second wind under Flick and leads Spain’s scoring charts with 12 strikes in 10 matches, twice as many as any other player.

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Pedri soon doubled Barcelona’s lead from the edge of the box after the active Yamal set him up. The teenage Spain star then threaded through Lewandowski but Nyland made a fine save to deny him.

Polish veteran Lewandowski netted his second before the break by guiding home Raphinha’s drive from distance with a flick of his boot.

Suffering Sevilla were dealt more bad news before the break when explosive winger Chidera Ejuke limped off injured.

Raphinha fired home early in the second half but was offside, as Barcelona strolled, carving open the Andalucians at their leisure.

Yamal produced an outrageous shot from a distance with the outside of his boot which Nyland clawed to safety.

Dodi Lukebakio struck at the other end on a rare Sevilla foray forward but had strayed offside.

Barcelona midfielder Pablo Torre rattled home the fourth with the aid of a deflection before Gavi made his first appearance in 11 months as a substitute with a few minutes remaining to a rapturous reception.

“He’s a great guy, a hard worker, and he deserves this moment, you can see the fans love him and we all do,” added Pedri.

Idumbo pulled one back for Sevilla, 13th, but Torre wrapped up Barcelona’s night with a stroke of fortune when his free-kick crept in at the far post.

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Sevilla great Jesus Navas to leave club in summer

Sevilla captain and record appearance-maker Jesus Navas will leave at the end of the season, the La Liga club said Thursday.

The 38-year-old full-back has won eight trophies during two long spells covering 17 seasons at the team where he started his career.

He will play his last game with Sevilla on May 25 against Barcelona during the ongoing La Liga 2023-24 season.

“Navas will leave Sevilla at the end of the 2023/24 season… the captain told the club, his team-mates and the coaching staff at the training session this morning,” said Sevilla in a statement.

“The club would like to wish Jesús Navas the best as embarks on a new professional chapter, as well as thank him for his commitment, professionalism and honesty with which he has shown throughout his career and for which he is one of our all-time greatest symbols.

“The club will always open its door to Jesús Navas at any time in the future and Sevilla will continue to always be his home.”

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Navas has played 688 games for Sevilla across all competitions, making his 500th appearance in La Liga for the Andalucian side in midweek.

The Spaniard has scored 39 goals and provided 119 assists in his time at Sevilla, starting his career as a winger and later playing at right-back.

Navas has earned four Europa League titles, two Copa del Rey triumphs, the European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup during his time at the club.

In 2013 Navas departed for Manchester City, where he won the Premier League and two League Cups, later returning to Sevilla in 2017.

Navas has won more trophies and played more matches for Sevilla than any other player in the club’s history.

With Spain the defender won the World Cup in 2010, the European Championship in 2012 and the Nations League in 2023.

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La Liga: Ramos’ Sevilla hold leaders Real Madrid as Atletico Madrid climb second

Real Madrid shared a pulsating 1-1 draw with Sergio Ramos’ Sevilla on Saturday, ensuring they will face Barcelona in the Clasico next weekend as La Liga leaders.

Meanwhile, Antoine Griezmann struck a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over 10-man Celta Vigo to help Atletico Madrid climb provisionally second in the La Liga points table, in hot pursuit of their city rivals.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid dropped two points in the La Liga title race but extended their lead to four points over bitter rivals Barcelona, who are in fourth place and host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

David Alaba’s own goal sent the hosts ahead but Madrid quickly pulled level through Dani Carvajal.

Madrid faced their former captain Sergio Ramos, back at Sevilla for the first time in 18 years, and the 37-year-old gave a typically all-action display to frustrate Los Blancos.

Sevilla impressed, giving as good as they got in new coach Diego Alonso’s first match in charge, ahead of their Champions League clash with Arsenal on Tuesday.

Los Blancos players were left unhappy by decisions to rule out goals for Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham, the latter after Sevilla’s Lucas Ocampos had gone down hurt with Madrid piling forward.

Madrid faced off against Ramos, 37, who rejoined his boyhood club Sevilla in September and put in a heroic defensive display at the raucous Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.

Ramos produced a stunning block as Alaba tried to turn home from close range and later squared off with his Madrid successor, Antonio Rudiger, squeezing the German’s cheeks.

Sevilla goalkeeper Orjan Nyland saved Vinicius Junior’s volley before the break, one of Madrid’s clearest chances.

The goalkeeper then denied Rodrygo early in the second half with a superb save with his legs, as the visitors hunted for the breakthrough.

Ramos, in his element, produced multiple blocks and clearances to keep Madrid at bay, before Sevilla took the lead.

Alaba, under pressure from Youssef En-Nesyri, accidentally turned Ocampos’ cross into his own net with 15 minutes remaining.

However, the Andalusians were not able to hold on to it for long, with Carvajal heading Toni Kroos’s free-kick home at the near post four minutes later.

Tempers frayed in the final stages as Vinicius pushed Nyland, who fell to the floor theatrically, sparking a shoving match.

Sevilla said they ejected a fan after an instance of racist abuse during the game, with Spanish media running images of a man appearing to make a monkey gesture at Vinicius during the brawl.

Atletico’s big La Liga win at Celta was aided by home goalkeeper Ivan Villa’s red card midway through the first half for felling Alvaro Morata.

Griezmann tucked away the resulting penalty and hit two more to move second in La Liga’s goalscoring charts on seven strikes.

The Frenchman netted his second when he drove forward brilliantly from inside his own half into the Celta area, and then slipped as he tried to cross the ball, accidentally driving it past Guaita at the near post.

“It was a cross, I wanted to cross it in and for that reason I said sorry to (Morata),” Griezmann told Movistar.

The forward slotted Nahuel Molina’s low cross home to complete his treble and round off a superb night for the Rojiblancos and Diego Simeone.

“Until the penalty they seemed like they could hurt us,” said the Argentine coach, who admitted Rafa Benitez’s Celta, 18th, had started well.

“The penalty and the red card changed things.”

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La Liga: Ramos set for Real Madrid reunion as Sevilla start new era

Sergio Ramos has not played against Real Madrid since 2005 but on Saturday, his Sevilla team will welcome the La Liga leaders to the Sanchez-Pizjuan for a reunion.

New Sevilla coach Diego Alonso faces a stern test in his first game at the helm and in veteran centre-back Ramos who can offer plenty of insight into Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid side.

Ramos controversially left Seville for the Spanish capital at the age of 19, which some fans have never forgotten, even though the majority welcomed him back with open arms this summer.

“We believe that the mere proposal of this signing was already a lack of respect for the values that have made us great… and for the thousands of Sevilla fans who have suffered the scorn of this player in the past,” wrote Sevilla ultras group Biris Norte in an open letter.

In the years after his departure, Ramos was keen to goad his former side, while he was roundly booed on visits to face Seville.

However, the defender said he could “die happy” after playing for his boyhood club again, and has impressed since returning even though the team was struggling under Jose Luis Mendilibar.

“I had a few doubts at first but the reception I had on my arrival, I will take to the grave … now I can die happy,” said Ramos after his first match back at the Sanchez-Pizjuan, a win over Las Palmas.

One sour note was his own goal against old rivals Barcelona, handing the champions a 1-0 win at the Catalan club’s temporary Olympic Stadium home at the end of September.

Ramos will hope his first clash with Real Madrid goes better, although it promises to be an emotional affair for him.

He left Madrid for French side Paris Saint-Germain in 2021 but was injured when the sides met in the Champions League in March 2022.

The last time Ramos faced Madrid was for Sevilla in May 2005, and he scored in a 2-2 draw, hammering home a long-range drive after a free-kick was laid off to him.

Ramos has never lost a game against Real Madrid — the other time he faced them Sevilla won 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid will want to keep, or even extend, their three-point advantage over Barcelona ahead of the Clasico on October 28.

Barcelona host former coach Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao on Sunday in another reunion, with the Catalans currently third.

Girona, second, welcomes bottom-of-the-table Almeria on Sunday and will be confident of staying ahead of their more illustrious Catalan neighbours.

Sevilla are 14th, with only two wins in their first eight games and only two points clear of the relegation zone.

The Madrid clash is only the start of a tough run of games for Alonso and his side, with Arsenal visiting on Tuesday in the Champions League, and a derby clash against Real Betis in La Liga on the horizon.

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Sergio Ramos returns to boyhood club Sevilla

Veteran former Spain defender Sergio Ramos on Monday returned to his home-town club Sevilla after 18 years away.

“It’s a very special day, returning home is always a tremendous joy,” Ramos told the media.

The 37-year-old former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain player signed a one-year contract after passing the traditional medical, the club announced.

“Happy to return and try to contribute as soon as possible which is the important thing,” the player added.

Sevilla sit bottom of La Liga without a point after three matches but as Europa League champions have qualified for the Champions League group stage. They start their campaign on September 20.

Sergio Ramos left Sevilla at the age of 19 to join Real Madrid for a then record fee for a Spanish defender.

In 2021, Ramos signed for PSG but had been without a club since his contract with the French champions ran out in June.

According to the local press, Sergio Ramos turned down a lucrative offer from Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.

“I was eager to return home. It made no sense to go anywhere else without passing through here,” said Ramos who was born on the outskirts of Seville.

In 16 seasons at the Bernabeu, Ramos won La Liga five times and the Champions League four times.

He played 180 games for Spain, scoring 23 goals, and was part of the team that won the European Championship twice (2008 and 2012) and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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La Liga: Alaves edge Sevilla as Rayo Vallecano thump Granada

Alaves registered their first win in the ongoing La Liga season as they defeated Sevilla 4-3 in a hard-fought battle, while, Rayo Vallecano jumped to second position after thumping Granada 2-0.

Alaves, returned to La Liga this season, after earning a promotion in the play-off stage of Segunda División (second division). However, they started this season with a loss at the hands of Cadiz.

They started the game on high with a seventh-minute goal by Luis Rioja, however, Abdelkabir Abqar’s own goal in the 15th minute levelled the score.

Sevilla’s Erik Lamela scored a goal on his own in the 40th minute to give his side the lead, however, their lead was short-lived as Alaves equalized three minutes later with a goal by Rubén Duarte to close the first half at 2-2.

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Alaves had a flying start to the second half as Kike García stunned the home crowd with two goals in five minutes to give his side the decisive 4-2 lead which remained intact until Sevilla’s Rafa Mir scored a goal in the final minutes of extra time to close the game at 4-3.

In another game of La Liga, Rayo Vallecano crushed home side Granada 2-0 to sink them to the bottom of the table with two losses, while they are comfortably sitting in the second position with two clean sheets in two games.

Both teams defended enough to not allow the opponent to score until Rayo’s Álvaro García gave the first goal in the 74th minute to give visitors an upper hand.

They extended their lead to 2-0 four minutes later with the match-winning goal by Pathé Ciss before the home side was reduced to 10 men as Antonio Puertas was shown the red card in the 85th minute.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid were held by Real Betis in a goalless stalemate.

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Sevilla beat Roma on penalties to win Europa League

BUDAPEST: Sevilla won a record-extending seventh Europa League title after overcoming Roma 4-1 on penalties in Wednesday’s final in Budapest following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Yassine Bounou was the hero for Sevilla as he saved two spot-kicks in the shootout while the Spanish side converted all four of their attempts.

Gonzalo Montiel, who converted the winning penalty for Argentina in last year’s World Cup final, did so again for Sevilla — after he was allowed to retake his kick because of encroachment.

Paulo Dybala had struck the opener for Roma on 35 minutes but Sevilla equalised early in the second half through Gianluca Mancini’s own goal.

Chris Smalling nearly won the game for the Italians deep into added time at the end of extra time when his looping header at a corner came back off the bar.

Mancini and Roger Ibanez were denied by Bounou in the shootout as Jose Mourinho suffered his first defeat in a major European final at the sixth attempt.

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Lamela heads Sevilla past Juventus into Europa League final

SEVILLE: Erik Lamela propelled Europa League specialists Sevilla into the final once again with a 2-1 victory over Juventus on Thursday, sealing a 3-2 aggregate triumph in a gripping clash.

Lamela headed home in extra-time to complete an impressive comeback for the record six-time winners of the competition, who will face Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest on May 31 after they edged past Bayer Leverkusen.

Dusan Vlahovic fired visitors Juventus ahead in the second half, two minutes after coming on as a substitute, but Suso smashed home from outside the area to take the game to extra-time.

Lamela connected perfectly with Bryan Gil’s cross in the 95th minute to delight the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, and Sevilla held on to reach the final for the first time since 2020.

“A lot of things went through my head, good moments, bad moments. It was a unique moment,” Lamela told Movistar.

“Now we are a step away, it’s a great opportunity. It’s a night I will remember forever, it’s something incredible to play here, in front of all these fans.”

Juventus failed to set up an all-Italian final against Roma, but Italy still has with one representative in each of the three European finals.

Inter Milan reached the Champions League showdown against Manchester City by seeing off rivals AC Milan on Tuesday, while on Thursday Fiorentina beat Basel to reach the Conference League final where they will face West Ham.

Defeat is concerning for Juventus, who are second in Serie A but braced for a potential points deduction which could knock them out of the top four. Winning the Europa League would have been an alternative route to Champions League qualification.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side, without the injured Paul Pogba, were significantly better than in the first leg but fell short.

“You have to put them in the back of the net when you have the chances,” Allegri said.

“The boys played a good game, but it was a European semi-final, we had to give a little more.”

He said his young Juventus side paid the price for their lack of experience compared to Sevilla.

“It’s a team that lacks experience at international level, these are physical matches, which require a lot,” he added.

Sevilla, who dominated in Turin but were pegged back at the death in the 1-1 draw, shaded the first half but Juventus threatened on the counter.

Juventus goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny produced a superb save to claw out a Lucas Ocampos header at his near post.

At the other end his counterpart Yassine Bounou produced an equally strong fingertip stop to tip a Moise Kean effort onto the post.

Sevilla were fuming before half-time when Juan Cuadrado sliced down Oliver Torres and no penalty was awarded by VAR, despite replays indicating the foul began in the area.

Gleison Bremer’s header scraped the post as the Italians pushed harder to break the deadlock in the second half.

Substitute Vlahovic made Juventus’ pressure count as he burst away from two Sevilla defenders and dinked the ball past Bounou.

– Sevilla spirit –

However, Sevilla substitute Suso levelled from outside the area, carving out some space before launching a rocket into the top corner.

Jose Luis Mendilibar’s team, who saw off Manchester United in the quarter-finals, showed their desire to again succeed in a competition which they have dominated in the past decade, with four triumphs in the previous nine editions.

Youssef En-Nesyri, who struck for Sevilla in the first leg, was denied by Szczesny in the 90th minute, stretching to tip his header over.

However the Polish goalkeeper could not keep Lamela’s header out, with the Argentine midfielder nodding home Bryan Gil’s cross in the fifth minute of extra-time.

Marcos Acuna was sent off for Sevilla after 115 minutes, leaving the hosts hanging on, but they dug deep to extend their Europa League legend and book their ticket to Budapest.

“Being with your childhood team, living each game and another final now, is incredible, and you have to enjoy it,” said veteran Sevilla defender Jesus Navas.

“The team was impressive, we gave everything, and the fans, they deserve everything.”

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Sevilla snatch late victory to deepen Espanyol’s La Liga relegation woes

SEVILLE: Pape Gueye scored the late winner as Sevilla piled up misery on relegation-threatened Espanyol with a 3-2 victory in La Liga at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday.

Bryan Gill and Lucas Ocampos also netted for the hosts as Espanyol battled to contain the precise passing and movement of the Andalusian side.

Javi Puado took Espanyol on a 2-1 lead at halftime after Karim Rekik’s own goal opened the account for the visitors in the 22nd minute.

Sevilla, however, rebounded in the second half and levelled 2-2 in the 69th with Ocampos scoring from the penalty area.

Pape Gueye struck two minutes before time to wrap up the game and took his side three points clear of Mallorca at the 11th position in La Liga standings.

Espanyol sit in the elimination zone and only above rock-bottom Elche with 31 points from 33 matches.

Leaders Barcelona, who are 13 points ahead of second-placed Atletico, will have the chance to clinch their 27th La Liga title with a win in their next game against city rivals Espanyol on May 14.

Later on Thursday, Rayo Vallecano defeated Valladolid 2-1 to go ahead of Osasuna and on to the ninth in the standings.

Also, sixth-placed Real Betis beat 10-man Atheltic Club 1-0 and moved to 52 points thanks to Willian Jose’s early strike in the sixth minute of the game.

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