Europa League defending champions Sevilla are close to a place in the knockout stage after a 3-1 victory over Standard Liège on Thursday evening. Gameiro headed the Andalusians in to an early lead, and although Mpoku made it all square with a deflected free kick, strikes at the end of the first and second halves by Reyes and Bacca wrapped things up. Villarreal let things slip though, Marcelino’s side dropping to second in their group after a 3-2 defeat at Zurich. All the goals came in a frenetic ten minute period midway through the first half, with Tomás Pina and Gerard Moreno twice putting the Liga side in front. However the hosts pegged them back both times with goals by Etoundi and Buff, and Chikhaoui got the winner three minutes later. (06.11.14)
Europa League defending champions Sevilla are close to a place in the knockout stage after a 3-1 victory over Standard Liège on Thursday evening. Emery’s side started the game just a point above their opponents in the table, but they dominated early on, Figueiras and Deulofeu bringing saves out of Thuram-Ulien before Gameiro headed the opener following Deulofeu’s corner. Mpoku made it all square a few minutes later with a deflected free kick, but Reyes hit the post from another free kick before finishing off a quick passing move to restore the lead shortly before half time. Denis Suárez headed against the bar after the break, but the result was in doubt until Bacca scrambled home the third right at the end. Sevilla now have a tricky visit to Feyenoord, who are two points below them in the table, but with Rijeka to come at home after that they are still favorites to reach the round of thirty-two.
Villarreal lost for the first time in this season’s Europa League, a 3-2 defeat at Zurich leaving them in second spot behind Borussia Moenchengladbach. All the goals came in a frenetic ten minute period midway through the first half, with Tomás Pina heading Marcelino’s side in to the lead from Espinosa’s corner, but Etoundi getting between a hesitant Juan Carlos and Víctor Ruíz to head the equalizer just a minute later. Gerard Moreno volleyed home Adrián Marín’s cross to put the locals back in front, but once again Zurich levelled the scores with a long free kick from Buff which bounced past Juan Carlos in to the net (there was some doubt whether Djimisti got a touch with his head or not), and just three minutes Chikhaoui got what was to prove the winner. Pina, Vietto and Cheryshev tested Da Costa after the interval, and Rukavina fired an impressive shot against the post, but the Swiss side held on for a win which keeps their slim hopes of qualifying alive.