Sevilla 2-Villarreal 0 | Sevilla closes 2020 in a big way

Sevilla closed their spectacular 2020 with a weighty victory against a direct rival like Villarreal. The dominance of the own and rival area was what unbalanced the balance of a game in which the locals suffered much more than what ended up dictating the score.

Although both teams jumped onto the pitch with the expected eleven, Unai Emery's approach caught Julen Lopetegui with a changed foot. Villarreal opted to play with two points and with Trigueros lying on the left wing, which generated tremendous problems for Sevilla to leave with the ball played, while taking the ball away from his opponents seemed like an impossible mission. On his return to Sánchez Pizjuán, the Hondarribia coach remembered the kind of coach he is.

But what Emery did not have was that the game was twisted in an absurd play. After six minutes, Foyth defended with his hand detached from the body a shot from Acuna from the front that did not seem to pose a great danger either. Soto Grado pointed to a corner, but ended up correcting his decision after reviewing the play in the VAR at the request of De Burgos Bengoetxea. Ocampos, as usual, took responsibility and, also as usual, converted the maximum penalty by deceiving Asenjo.

Far from accusing the blow of being below the scoreboard, Villarreal continued with its plan since it had not stopped working. Gerard Moreno unbalanced the entire defensive system of Sevilla and the arrivals on both sides were continuous. The problem is that the dominance was not translated on clear occasions, as evidenced by the absence of shots on goal by Bono in the first half. The feeling of danger was constant and Sevilla could only appear in attack from set pieces. And despite the scarcity of his offensive production, Diego Carlos had in his boots to extend the advantage on the scoreboard in two strategic plays, one going up and the other being thwarted by Asenjo with a good save.

The beginning of the second part was an absolute tracing of the first. Villarreal increased their dominance but was to be punished again when they could least expect it. And the play of the second goal for Sevilla could not better define what the game was being. Diego Carlos snatched a goal from Fernando Niño. His clearance was controlled by Peña, who was pressured by Ocampos to take the ball from him and filter a perfect pass to En Nesyri. With meters ahead, the Moroccan was unstoppable and defined perfectly against Asenjo. the game said one thing and the scoreboard, quite another.

There was a world left and Villarreal was not going to throw in the towel, it was time for the figure of Bono to emerge. The Sevilla goalkeeper saved three consecutive occasions in three minutes, stopping Pedraza one-on-one, a very hard shot at Chukwueze and avoiding an own goal from Fernando. Sevilla seemed destined to end the year in style and only the sanction of Fernando facing the derby makes the smile not complete.

Lopetegui: “We did a very good defensive job”

Julen lopetegui, Sevilla coach, appreciated the triumph of his team against Villarreal and showed his satisfaction with the performance of his players at the gates of the derby: “We have beaten an opponent who came without losing in 18 games. We had a great game, we are satisfied with the team's game and the result. We have to continue.”

The Nervionense coach was clear: “You have to work on the games. Villarreal has very decisive players at the top and we had to do a very good defensive job both with the ball and without the ball. Balance of the year? That is for other types of situations, the balances must be done at the end season. We now have an important game against a good rival. “

About that derby, he was also resounding: “We have only thought about Villarreal, a rival that was ahead of us, one of the best players in the Spanish League.”

Derby: “We have to look at the next game, which is beautiful and demanding. We do not look much further. We do not look back, we focus on what we have to do. There will be a very good rival, with good footballers and a very experienced coach.”

Emery: “The penalty play makes me feel hurt”

Penalty: “We have to refine those plays and we must get closer to having those plays clearer. We played a game in the first half in which you are fine and that in an isolated play like that, a penalty like that comes out, at the level of play, it hurts you. In an isolated play like this you feel harmed and that weighs so much, it hurts. That a penalty is taken from a ball that goes into the stands from outside the area, it hurts you and today you feel harmed. It makes you think that you have to go back to review these things. There are times when you can think that it is better to shoot at hand than at goal, but I think that is not what we should look for. The VAR comes to help, but we must improve things. “

Good match: “The team has been good and has played a complete game. We have lacked that final definition. It should help us to continue growing. We have controlled, we have moved them away from the area, we have arrived and we have been patient, I liked that. It's true. that their second goal, with our mistake, has helped them to have the game more expensive. They have been effective and that second goal has added to the problems in the center, we have lacked strength there, and that has complicated us and it has forced us to make a great wear and tear. We have not been able to be constant, but despite this we have generated to be able to enter the game “.

Many ties: “The ties are worth if you win later, we knew that the ties were not enough if the defeat came. The losses we have supplied with the people who come from behind and it is good to see them in the field. This defeat comes from a draw at home, it which makes me think that we should react at home to give a better version and score the points.

Technicians and VAR: “The coaches meet outside the competition, when you are in it I think it is more a matter of the referees. We speak when it hurts you or you feel harmed, therefore, I think it should be the referees who should look for solutions. I am a defender of VAR, although today I can't say it. “

Capoue: “I'm talking with Roig and from the beginning we have a lot of communication and we are clear about what we want. We have discussed the issue of the midfielder and we have agreed that we need it. Seeing what was in the market we see that Capoue's was the best option. The team has worked on it and if he arrives shortly he will be received as a very good reinforcement. We know him from Toulouse and Watford, we know what he can bring us. “