Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1 this Sunday at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Spain's LaLiga. Gabriel Suazo started and wore the captain's armband for the Andalusian side, who had been unbeaten away from home in the competition.
According to La Tercera, Sevilla had recorded two wins and two draws away from home, although they were on a two-match winless run. Sevilla's last victory at the Bernabéu was on December 7, 2008. Fernando Gago, now coach of Universidad de Chile, scored for Madrid in that match.
José Mourinho's team started sluggishly, and Sevilla were untroubled in the opening quarter of an hour. Suazo pushed up his flank when he could, facing Brazilian Endrick, who was positioned on the right.
In the 30th minute, Arda Güler opened the scoring with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box that beat Odysseas Vlachodimos after a combination with Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomandé. Three minutes later, Kylian Mbappé outpaced Suazo, but the Greek goalkeeper saved his shot with his foot.
The Frenchman made no mistake in the 37th minute. He controlled the ball, turned between two opponents, rounded Vlachodimos and finished with his left foot. Bellingham was again involved in the move. Sevilla ended the first half with 39% possession and just two shots on Thibaut Courtois' goal.
After the hour mark, Mbappé converted a penalty he had won himself. He chipped the ball Panenka-style to make it 3-0. Manu Bueno pulled a goal back in the 80th minute with a left-footed shot across goal after a defensive error, but Ivorian Diomandé, the player of the match, sealed the 4-1 scoreline two minutes later.
Radio ADN noted that Suazo went largely unnoticed and that Sevilla have suffered three defeats, all against the big clubs: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid. Despite that, the Nervión side remain sixth with 14 points.
In the stands, Madrid fans unfurled a banner targeting Barcelona and LaLiga president Javier Tebas, bearing the phrase "It's not football, it's Tebas and Negreira", amid the controversy over refereeing.
Madrid finished third with 21 points, behind Atlético (22) and leaders Barcelona (27). El Clásico takes place on Sunday the 25th at Spotify Camp Nou, with Champions League fixtures in midweek.
