Sevilla ground out a tight win at home, with Juan Iglesias scoring the only goal of the match in the 81st minute to beat bottom club Valencia 1-0 on Friday at the Estadio Nervión. The result, refereed by Mateo Busquets Ferrer, leaves Luis García Plaza's side on 10 points and builds on their strong start to the campaign.
Iglesias punishes a lapse
The goal came from a defensive breakdown. Iglesias found himself completely unmarked inside the box after a pass from Giorgi Kochorashvili and made no mistake, exposing a Valencia defence that failed to track him. Three minutes earlier, in the 78th minute, Otorbi had already forced a save from Dimitrievski, a warning that Sevilla's goal was coming.
The home side had created chances throughout the second half without reward. Correia stole the ball off Javi Guerra in the 47th minute and squared it for Isaac, who headed over the bar, and Stassin later struck the post with a shot. Dimitrievski also denied Kike Salas and Fofana before Iglesias eventually settled the contest.
Corberán takes the blame
Valencia head coach Carlos Corberán spoke after the match and did not shy away from his share of responsibility for his side's lack of attacking threat. "I haven't managed to get my team to attack, and that's my responsibility," said Corberán, the Valencia manager.
Corberán also acknowledged Sevilla's superiority in the second half and admitted the scale of the problem facing his side. "I haven't managed to get my team to attack and Sevilla outplayed us in the second half." he explained.
Valencia arrived at Nervión with eight players unavailable and felt the impact early, with Tárrega picking up an injury in the 23rd minute and being replaced by Córdoba. Danjuma, for his part, looked completely overwhelmed by the occasion, and Valencia failed to register a single shot on target in the closing minutes. Corberán's side fought with dignity despite their technical shortcomings, though their problems, by the coach's own admission, run deeper than the dugout.
Sevilla now turn to Riazor
The win suggests fortunes have turned for a Sevilla side that had taken just seven points from their previous twelve league matches. With the victory over Valencia, Sevilla now sit fourth in the table on 10 points, just two points behind leaders Barcelona, according to the current standings.
García Plaza's record over the last five matchdays reads three wins, one draw and one defeat, with eight goals scored and six conceded. Sevilla travel to sixth-placed Deportivo La Coruna on September 16, a match listed on the club's fixtures page. For that trip, García Plaza will still be without Arouna Sangante and Rubén Vargas, both named on the injuries list.
