Figure of Yassine Bounou, ‘Bono’, was enlarged again in the first leg of the semifinals of Cup against him Barcelona, clash in which Sevilla achieved a hopeful 2-0 heading into the second leg, especially after the defensive security that Lopetegui are exhibiting, since they have conceded only one goal in the last 8 official matches (4 in the League and 4 in Cup) in which they have not only not lost but have made full.
The Moroccan international goalkeeper, who has 618 unbeaten minutes, was colossal particularly against Leo Messi, who took two saving hands, especially one in a foul on the edge of the area shortly before the end of the game.
But Bono's story at Sevilla is noteworthy. He arrived two seasons ago almost as a filler in the squad as a loan from the Girona in the shadow of a Tomas Vaclik who was clearly the starter in the sevillista goal. With the role of substitute he held on for most of the season and even fell like a stone a failure in the round of 32 of the Europa League against Romanian Cluj, a ball that escaped him at the last minute in Nervión and if not for the VAR (who decreed the hand of the rival striker in control) would have eliminated the Sevilla players from their favorite competition and in which months later they would win their sixth title.
Who would also say that in that feat he would be decisive with his stops Bond. The Moroccan took advantage of an injury to Vaclik in the last days of the last League to take over the title and win his place in the final phase of the Europa League, in which Lopetegui, with Vaclik already recovered, continued to trust the Moroccan, who he was instrumental in Germany, stopping decisive penalties in the quarter-finals and semi-finals against Wolverhampton and Manchester United and in a pair of heads-up against Lukaku in the final against Inter. This also caused Sevilla to agree with Girona to purchase the player and keep him in property.
“They are situations very to the limit and sometimes Barcelona sinks you and you have to handle situations well, but in general the work went well and we have to continue like this to dream of that final,” Bono said at the end of the game and be asked about his stops at Messi. The Moroccan goalkeeper has always stood out for his humility and for making the group prevail over his performances, apart from the tranquility and security with which he worked when he had to be in the substitution. Now collect the fruits.