In Seville, a dramatic comeback saw the home side prevail 4-2 over Granada. After an evenly fought first half, Diego Carlos held firm in the back and helped set up a landmark moment as the hosts surged into Champions League positions. Lucas Ocampos added another goal, and even though Víctor Díaz leveled late, Rafa Mir and Papu Gómez sealed the win with goals in stoppage time.
The opening half belonged to Sevilla. Granada struck first through Darwin Machís, finishing with a precise shot from inside the box after breaking through the middle. Diego Carlos responded quickly for the hosts, restoring parity and shifting momentum in favor of Sevilla. When the ball found its way to Ocampos after a VAR check, the Argentine forward restored Sevilla’s lead, prompting a curious restart before the teams entered a dramatic second half. As the clock wound down, Mir and Papu Gómez delivered late strikes to push the score to 4-2 in the 99th minute, delivering a decisive blow to Granada.
Both teams entered the match in need of points but for very different reasons. Sevilla aimed to strengthen a coveted Champions League place after a sequence of tough results, including several draws and a setback at Barcelona. Granada, meanwhile, sought to climb away from the relegation zone, aiming for stability after a recent winless run of more than a dozen matches.
Julen Lopetegui reshaped his lineup, making three changes from the previous clash. Jesús Corona, Youssef En-Nesyri, and Ludwig Augustinsson came into the starting XI, while Erik was unavailable due to injury and Gudelj dropped to the bench. For Granada, Rubén Torrecilla handed five fresh faces a chance following their draw with Rayo, with Germán Sánchez, Yan Eteki, and Darwin Machís among the new contributors supporting Luis Suárez in attack.
Sevilla began this Andalusian duel with a clear sense of purpose, driven by disciplined defending and measured attacking moves. Granada resisted with a compact shape, showing discipline but not creating enough danger to threaten their hosts early on. Sevilla controlled the pace and produced the clearer chances, especially with precise pressing and effective distribution from wide areas.
The first-half dominance by Sevilla produced a goal-fest in the 23rd minute when Machís put Granada in front with a well-timed finish from a dangerous break. The hosts answered back inside the half-hour mark as Diego Carlos displayed an excellent header from Jesús Navas’s crossing to bring the score level. Navas was pivotal with his dangerous runs down the right, although Maximiano in goal for Granada often read the play well and kept the visitors in the contest.
After halftime, the tempo rose. Sevilla pushed higher, and Granada found themselves under increasing pressure. Suárez looked for a breakthrough in the 62nd minute, testing Bono with a curling effort, but Lopetegui’s side remained relentless. In the 67th minute, Lucas Ocampos struck again, turning in a rebound after a sequence of actions on the left. Although there was a moment of debate over possible offside during the buildup, VAR confirmed the goal and set the stage for a dramatic finish.
The controversy around the second goal centered on a potential offside during the sequence that preceded the finish, but the on-field decision stood after VAR intervention, awarding Sevilla a 2-1 advantage that they would not relinquish easily. The match then opened up as Granada pressed in pursuit of a second equalizer. Sevilla strengthened their grip with substitutes who added fresh energy, including Rafa Mir, whose late presence made the difference in the closing stages.
With the match entering stoppage time, Mir redirected a header from a Rakitic cross to push the score to 3-2. Papu Gómez then took advantage of space opened up by a permeable Granada defense to add a fourth, securing an emphatic finish for the hosts. The late goals underscored Sevilla’s improved offensive rhythm and ability to convert chances when most needed, reinforcing their standing among Europe’s top sides and offering a glimpse of the team’s potential depth for the remainder of the season.
The match featured a high number of chances and a release of pressure in extra time, confirming Sevilla’s recovery after a difficult run in La Liga. Granada, though defeated, showed moments of resilience, with Machís and Suárez creating pockets of danger and demonstrating why the team remains capable of competing against stronger sides in the league. The final scoreline reflected Sevilla’s superior execution in front of goal and Granada’s determination to keep fighting until the final whistle.
Data show Sevilla matched a structured approach with a balanced lineup that balanced defense and attack. The successful pressing and the efficiency of the wide players created the platform for the late goals, while Granada’s bold approach produced the early breakthrough and several scoring opportunities that kept the final result in doubt until the closing moments. The result adds a key win for Sevilla in their campaign as they chase a top-tier finish discussed in league analyses across the region. [La Liga sources]
Data sheet:
4 – Seville: Connect; Jesús Navas, Koundé, Diego Carlos (Gudelj, m.79), Augustinsson; Jordan, Rakitic; Ocampos (Rafa Mir, m.68), Martial (Papu Gómez, m.68), Tecatito Corona (Óliver Torres, m.83); An-Nesyri (Lamela, m.46).
2 – Granada: Maximian; Uzuni, Víctor Díaz, Domingos Duarte (Quini, m.72), Raúl Torrente (Germán, m.16), Escudero (Molina, m.83); Petrovic, Luis Milla, Yan Eteki (Soro, art.83), Machís (Arezo, art.72); Louis Suarez.
Goals: 0-1, M.23: Machís. 1-1, M.32: Diego Carlos. 2-1, M.67: Ocampos. 2-2, M.88: Victor Diaz. 3-2, M.93: Rafa Mir. 4-2, art.99: Papu Gomez.
Judge: Miguel Angel Ortiz Arias (Madrid Committee). Locals warned Jordán (m.57) and Rafa Mir (m.78) and visitors Yan Eteki (m.42) and Luis Suárez (m.77).
Events: The game played in front of 33,504 spectators, including half a thousand Granada fans, at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on the thirty-first matchday of LaLiga Santander.