Seville earned an important 2-0 victory to extend their fight away from the relegation zone, and they did it again at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. Mallorca’s season on the road continued to reveal the team’s vulnerabilities, marking a fourth league defeat in a row away from Palma.
A Moroccan goal by Youssef En-Nesyri, just before the half hour, followed by a strike from Bryan Gil after a quick break, sent Sevilla ahead 2-0 at the end of the first half and then preserved the two-goal margin until the final whistle, as the second half offered little drama.
Last Sunday, Sevilla halted a promising stretch for the squad, only to crash 3-0 at Barcelona’s Camp Nou. The scoreline underscored a tougher reality: the team remains trapped in a relentless battle to escape the relegation zone.
⛔ STOP by Rajkovic #SevillaFCRCDMallorca!#LaLigaSantander#LaLigaFeatured#LaLigaConTurquiaSyria pic.twitter.com/uLe3olcYso
— LaLiga (@LaLiga) 11 February 2023
Mallorca’s home ground, Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, presented a different atmosphere, with confidence restored after a seven-point gap over their mid-table opponent and a win against Real Madrid (1-0) in the previous round.
Yet the visit of Jorge Sampaoli’s side kept Mallorca under pressure. The home crowd witnessed a team that had won three straight matches at home against Getafe, Cádiz, and Elche, while Mallorca had managed only one win in their last four away fixtures across LaLiga and the Cup, a stretch marked by losses at Getafe, Osasuna, Cádiz and a cup setback against Real Sociedad.
Sevilla lined up with three at the back and used the right flank to generate creativity, relying on Jesús Navas to pull the strings. The squad, unable to play in Barcelona due to injuries, welcomed Bryan Gil back on loan from Tottenham, adding a familiar threat on the wings.
As the visitors pressed higher up the pitch, Sevilla’s defense remained compact. The Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic faced minimal trouble until late in the first half, when a push from Sevilla finally produced a breakthrough.
Gueye appeared ready to debut as a striker inside the Sevilla setup as the action intensified on the field, with motion and urgency across the pitch. The crowd watched as Swede Ludwig Augustinsson, on loan, made his debut for the home side during this second phase of the campaign.
Sevilla continued to press, with En-Nesyri and Suso Fernández both testing the Mallorca defense. Interceptions by Rajkovic and later by Íñigo Ruiz de Galarreta kept Mallorca level early on, but the Serb’s form was steadier as the half wore on.
The Moroccan forward finally found the net after a long-distance pass from Pape Gueye, sealing a second goal for Sevilla and broadening the gap just before the break. From the goal line, Bryan Gil created another moment for Sevilla, working the ball into the net after a pass from Jesús Navas.
The second half began with Mallorca needing a swift response, and the coach Vasco Aguirre reshaped his team to push for a comeback. The balance of play shifted as Sevilla opened gaps in defense, though Yassine Bono, Mallorca’s goalkeeper, denied several clear opportunities and kept the score from widening.
As the match progressed, Mallorca leaned into counterattacks on the left flank. Amath Ndiaye, Manu Morlanes, and Tino Kadewere entered the fray to sharpen Mallorca’s attack, while Sevilla preferred to maintain time on the ball and protect their lead. The plan limited Mallorca’s chances and allowed Sevilla to control much of the tempo.
In the end, Sevilla’s discipline and structure paid off. The home side held firm in the back and looked dangerous on the break, especially when Gonzalez and the midfielders coordinated quick transitions. Mallorca, though resolute, could not overturn the two-goal deficit, and the match concluded with Sevilla securing the win in front of their supporters.
The clash highlighted the tactical chess game between Sampaoli and Aguirre, with Sevilla showing depth and organization, and Mallorca facing a difficult run of results away from home that could impact their season trajectory.