Sevilla moved above Barcelona into second place


Sevilla moved above Barcelona into second spot in the La Liga table, as they held off Valencia with a 2-1 win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Saturday.

 An own-goal from Ezequiel Garay and a second from Nicolas Pareja secured victory for the home side, who now sit just seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid.

 El Haddadi Munir pulled one back for the visitors just after the hour mark, but it wasn't to be for Cesare Prandelli's men who were denied an equaliser in the last kick of the game when Sevilla's Sergio Rico somehow kept out Jose Gaya's goal-bound strike with a stunning save.
The first half saw little in the way of chances created, as the home side were forced to defend to keep Valencia at bay. 

 Los Che were gifted an opportunity inside the first three minutes when Sevilla goalkeeper Rico delivered a poor kick straight to the opposition, but much to Rico's relief his defenders were on hand to clear the danger.

 The home side closed down the hosts well and showed an impressive counter-attacking display in the 18th minute when Franco Vazquez went on a good run into the box as he looked to pick out Vitolo, but Valencia tracked back well to deal with the danger. 

 The best chance of the first half came Vazquez's way after 20 minutes when the midfielder released a shot from the edge of the box with his left foot, but he sent his effort narrowly wide to leave manager Jorge Sampaoli with his head in his hands.

 As the game progressed so did the quality displayed and the deadlock was finally broken after 53 minutes when, after some brilliant build-up play, Vitolo squared the ball across the face of goal only for a hapless Garay to turn the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear it from close-range.

 But the lead didn't last long, with substitute Munir making an instant impact with a great goal to draw his side level in the 65th minute, getting on the end of a fabulous through ball from Joao Cancelo before slotting home with the outside of his left foot.

 Nine minutes later the home side reinstated their lead when Nico Pareja took a touch from a well-taken Sevilla corner before moving inside on his left foot to shoot from just inside the box to put his team ahead.

 The away side came agonisingly close to grabbing a late equaliser but Rico's super save between the sticks denied Gaya seconds before the final whistle blew.

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