Sevilla secure gargantuan victory in survival bid over Copa del Rey champions Real Sociedad

Sevilla secure gargantuan victory in survival bid over Copa del Rey champions Real Sociedad

Sevilla 1-0 Real Sociedad

Sevilla have secured a gargantuan victory to lift them out of the relegation zone for the week. The three points came largely through grit and graft, with Sevilla seeing out the win following Alexis Sanchez’s opener. La Real, in turn, have all but bid farewell to their hopes of fifth spot and a potential Champions League spot.

A tense and tetchy first half unfolded at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with neither side really able to grip onto the match. Perhaps the clearest opening cmae from Chidera Ejuke, cutting in from the right and forcing a strong save down to his left from Alex Remiro. Neither side could lay claim to control or a lead that would have been deserved though, as the vibrating crowd looked to influence matters for their side.

Sevilla win ‘their final’ at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

After the break, Sevilla came out the stronger, desperate to appease their fans. A cross in from the right side found Neal Maupay in the box, and managing to retain possession, slipped the ball into Alexis Sanchez. The experienced Chilean took a touch down the side of the box, and let rip into the corner, instigating bedlam in the partisan crowd.

Try as Real Sociedad did, they struggled to inject tempo and rhythm into a game that was defined by the scrappy nature of the Sevilla side. The next clear opening was Sevilla’s too, midway through the second half, with Sanchez again slipped down the right channel. He managed to find in the perfect place to shoot, but he could not get hold of the shot from the centre of the box, ballooning over.