First Division - Day 35

Sevilla 2 - Betis 0

Sevilla: Sergio Rico; Mariano, Kolodziejczak, Carriço, Escudero; Krychowiak, N’Zonzi; Reyes (Coke 80’), Banega (Iborra 81’), Konoplyanka (Krohn-Dehli 68’); Gameiro. 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Adán; Bruno, Pezzella, Westermann, Montoya; N’Diaye, Petros (Fabián 81’); Musonda (Cejudo 51’), Dani Ceballos, Joaquín (Van Wolfswinkel 70‘); Rubén Castro. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 67. Gameiro. Steered far post header past Adán after N’Zonzi crossed in.
2-0. 80. Coke. Shot from edge of area past keeper after Carriço laid ball back.

Yellow cards: Banega 08’, Musonda 13’, Pezzella 33’, Gameiro 49’, Cejudo 57’, Reyes 66’, Westermann 79’, Escudero 82’, Mariano 89’.

Sevilla moved eight points clear of Valencia in the fight for seventh spot after they beat Betis 2-0 in their local derby on Sunday. Emery’s side were on top for most of the first half, Konoplyanka testing keeper Adán, and Banega, Mariano and Gameiro going close. After the restart Sergio Rico had to tip a long shot from Cejudo over the bar, and Westermann dragged a shot wide following a corner, but midway through the second half Gameiro got on the end of N’Zonzi’s floated cross to head the locals in front. And with ten minutes to go Coke fired in the second after Carriço laid the ball back to put the squeeze on Athletic and Celta. Sevilla are in fact almost sure of a Europa League place for next season, especially as they are in the cup final as well, but they will be looking to get past their rivals to ensure that they enter the competition at the later stages rather than having to play tricky qualifiers in pre-season. Of course they could still qualify for the Champions League as well if they can lift this season’s Europa League trophy. After all, they have done it four times in the last ten years!