Javi Guerra struck in the 88th minute to hand Valencia a winding victory over Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium. The Andalusian club, preparing for a hectic week that includes a European Super Cup clash in Athens against Manchester City, fell behind early as Diakhaby opened the scoring and En-Nesyri equalized nine minutes later. Rubén Baraja’s side earned a first La Liga win of the season by capitalizing on a tense finish that left Sevilla stunned.
The Sevillistas entered the match with a desire to build on last season’s Europa League triumph, naming a starting XI that reflected continuity rather than wholesale change. They faced a Valencia side with a markedly rebuilt squad, a team that arrived with confidence and an aim to disrupt settled opponents early in the game. The visitors demonstrated intent by pressing high and trying to deny Sevilla control in the middle of the park, while Sevilla looked to unlock their opponent through the creativity of Erik Lamela and Ivan Rakitic, with Diego López ready to pounce on any loose ball.
Valencia’s approach paid dividends in the 60th minute when Diakhaby converted a cross from the right, surprising the home defense. The equalizer arrived soon after when En-Nesyri guided a rebound home, restoring parity and signaling a tight contest that would hinge on small margins. The game flowed with offensive intent on both sides, though neither side could maintain a consistent spell of domination. Sevilla pressed through the flanks as Lamela and Suso combined to create openings, while Valencia relied on opportunistic counters and the persistence of Hugo Duro in pressing defenders and goalkeeper Yassine Bono.
Around the hour mark, Sevilla sought to sharpen their tempo by moving the ball quickly across the width of the pitch. Acuña and Lamela, two key contributors, were briefly taken off due to injuries, and Olivier Torres stepped in to bring fresh energy into the attack. Valencia continued to weather the storm as Bono read the play well and produced important saves to keep his team level.
With the dynamic shifting in Sevilla’s favor, both sides persisted with a brave, open game. A sequence involving Ocampos and a swift counter from Valencia kept the match unsettled, as defenders and midfielders fought for possession in the middle third. In the late stages, Sevilla appeared to have the edge, pressing for a late breakthrough that could turn the tide in front of a home crowd keen to celebrate a positive result. Yet in the 81st minute a turning point arrived when Loïc Badé committed a late foul on Hugo Duro, earning a direct red card and leaving Sevilla with ten men for the closing stages.
The numerical imbalance opened space for Valencia to press forward and threaten on the break. Although the home side retained a final push, the best-laid plans were undone in the 88th minute when Javi Guerra struck again to give Valencia a 1-2 lead. The bookmaker’s last act of drama came as the clock ran down, with Sevilla unable to convert a series of half chances into an equalizer, and Valencia holding firm to claim the points in a match that delivered momentum for both sides as they head into their next fixtures.
Data sheet
Seville: Bono; Jesús Navas, Badé, Gudelj, Acuña; Fernando, Rakitic; Lamela, Suso, Ocampos; En-Nesyri. Subs: Gattoni for En-Nesyri, m82; Emek for Fernando, m69; Oliver Torres for Lamela, m56; Jesús Vázquez for Acuña, m87.
Valencia: Mamardashvili; Thierry, Gabriel Paulista, Diakhaby, Gayà; Pepelu, Cenk, Almeida; Fran Pérez, Hugo Duro, Diego López. Subs: Foulquier for Pérez, m61; Pablo Gozálbez for López, m65; Javi Guerra for Almeida, m61; Jesús Vázquez unused.
Scorers: 0-1, m60: Diakhaby; 1-1, m69: En-Nesyri; 1-2, m88: Javi Guerra.
Referee: José María Sánchez Martínez. A red card: Loïc Badé (Sevilla), m81, for a foul on Hugo Duro. Other cautions: Diakhaby (Valencia, m10) and Cenk (Valencia, m16); Rakitic (Sevilla, m14); Gudelj (Sevilla, m44); Acuña (Sevilla, m97).
Attendance: 34,184 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The Sevilla presidency presented Jesús Navas with a commemorative statue honoring his recent national-team success. A minute of silence was observed for members and former players lost last season. National team coach Luis de la Fuente watched the match from the stands.