Seville Edges Mallorca 0-1 to Escape Relegation Pressure as Espanyol Prep for Valladolid
Seville secured a 0-1 victory away against Mallorca, a result that temporarily lifts their relegation fears while Mallorca remains in the danger zone. The focus now shifts to Espanyol’s match against Valladolid this Sunday to see how the table might shift again.
Nemanja Gudelj delivered the decisive moment in the second half, stepping forward to score the lone goal and seal the win for Seville. The Argentinian influence around the bench, with Jorge Sampaoli directing from the sidelines, contributed to a stellar display for the visitors as the league season progresses.
Seville earned precious points with a disciplined performance, while Mallorca endured a home setback that compounds their recent struggles. Betis and Barcelona also recorded victories on the same matchday, further intensifying the battle at the bottom of the table.
One moment framed the tension perfectly as Vedat Muriqi was temporarily replaced by Abdón Prats, signaling a tactical reshuffle in a bid to rescue something from the game for Mallorca. The hosts appeared set to defend their advantage for as long as possible, even as Seville pressed for a breakthrough.
The match showcased a classic contest where Seville, under Sampaoli, looked to strike with precision while Mallorca attempted to exploit quick transitions. Squad selections reflected a cautious approach, with Erik Lamela leading the visitors’ frontline as the team aimed to unlock the Mallorca defense.
The early tempo saw Mallorca press the visitors, creating moments where Bono had to be alert to keep the sheet clean. Seville gradually steadied the play, and the right flank became a focal point as Maffeo tried to stretch the Mallorca defense and support the build-up play.
Despite Seville holding the ball for a vast majority of the game, their susceptibility to counterattacks and the need for a sharper final third remained evident. Both sides managed limited breakthroughs, with Prats forcing a couple of clear openings for Mallorca and Bono producing a couple of crucial saves to preserve the lead for Seville.
Seville also showed moments of control in the first half, with Isco orchestrating attacking moves that highlighted his quality. As the half progressed, the visitors found more balance and began to pin Mallorca back, reducing the home side’s offensive threat even when the locals carried a higher possession share.
Second-half changes kept the balance of play intact. Carmona entered for Rakitic while Mallorca looked to shuffle their attack with fresh legs on the field. Gudelj’s thunderbolt from distance, bending into the corner, justified the decision to keep him in the lineup as the game-winner. The strike, hit from outside the area, proved unstoppable and crowned Seville’s dominance in the decisive phase of the game.
The late stages featured a tense spell as Mallorca pushed for an equalizer. Aguirre sent on Ángel and Dani Rodríguez to inject pace and urgency, followed by Amath Ndiaye, Lago Junior, and Battaglia. Mallorca’s attempts to equalize culminated in a late chance for Ángel, which Bono saved again to maintain the lead for Seville.
Mallorca’s attempt to pressure Seville after the goal saw a disciplined defensive performance from the visitors, who stifled the home side’s momentum and closed out the contest. The result left Mallorca frustrated after a hard-fought display, while Seville earned a valuable away win that could influence the relegation battle going forward. The match took place at Visit Mallorca Estadi in front of a crowd of about 15,300, with Mallorca inaugurating the new East stand roof on the day.
Data sheet:
0- Mallorca: Rajkovic; Maffeo, Valjent, Railo, Copete (Battaglia, min. 79), Cufré; Baba (Dani Rodríguez, min. 53), Galarreta, Antonio Sánchez (Lago Junior, min. 67); Kang-in Lee (Ndiaye, min. 67), Abdón Prats (Ángel, min. 56).
1- Sevilla: Bono; Montiel, Nianzou, Marcao, Telles (Acuña, min. 67); Gudelj, Rakitic; Navas (Carmona, min. 46), Oliver Torres (Suso, min. 84), Isco (Papu Gómez, min. 67); Lamela (An-Nesyri, min. 78).
Goals: 0-1, 53: Gudelj
Referee: Villanueva Churches (C. Gallego). Bookings: Montiel (min. 28), Marcao (min. 35), Lamela (min. 45), Ruiz de Galarreta (min. 36), Rodríguez (min. 95).
Events: The match, on Santander League’s ninth day, was played at Visit Mallorca Estadi in front of 15,300 spectators. Mallorca opened the roof of the stadium’s new East stand.
— This summary is provided with attribution to LaLiga for the match details and official information.
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