SEVILLE 1 – WEST HAM 0 I The hex champion is claimed

When few expected Sevilla goes to London with a favorable result against West Ham, a goal that could be golden especially if Lopetegui manages to recover some of the 8 main casualties he had, 9 in the end were, between now and next Thursday. In a gala Nervión that finally silenced the almost 5,000 Englishmen who were in the stands, the red and white They claimed their status as LaLiga seconds and the epic that marks them as six-time champions of which is his fetish competition to win deservedly and, sometimes, even briefly. He disappointed West Ham, who were also faithful to the legend of so many teams on the islands, diminished when they go away from home. Reservón, Moyes never went for the game and paid for it with a defeat from which he came out alive, yes.

The warm-up (and they go…) aggravated the difficulties of Sevilla with another fallen, Ivan Rakitic, who was knocked out by a virus. In his place entered Munir, from villain in the first 45 minutes to hero after the restart. The Spanish-Moroccan soon had the 1-0 in his head but he threw out a Corona candy, again the Mexican in show mode, with overflow and quality on both wings. Minutes later Acuña put another precise cross inside the box, less easy but not impossible at all, but Munir kicked her out again.

Little fierce in pressure, West Ham only came up dribbles. The tremendous Michael Antonio won the first match against Gudelj, because with an immense Koundé he did not dare, and his shot went to the side of the net. Bono, in his usual guard intervention, avoided the first after a corner kick with a saving hand. And the Moroccan goalkeeper himself aborted the English goal again when the second half had just begun.

A save that gave life so that Lopetegui’s men immediately regained control. Jordán and Óliver Torres commanded more than Rice and Soucek, who would say it, and Sevilla was approaching the goal until it came in the most unexpected way against a Premier team, since it is assumed that there they dominate luck like no one else: set pieces. Acuña served and Munir impaled it on the net (1-0, 60′) at the second post to drive a dedicated Sánchez-Pizjuán crazy, who transmitted energy from the beginning because he knew the difficulties with which his team faced the match.

West Ham had no choice but to stretch but they did so without much conviction. Just a play with danger inside the area, in which Navas hindered a free shot. It was Ocampos, in fact, who enjoyed the two best chances to have enlarged the macador but his shots came out near Areola’s sticks. The yellow that the Argentine saw will certainly make him miss the return, The only bad news in another European night for the hope of a Seville that needs to get back on its feet.