Reyes plays the violin as Sevilla strengthen their lead

Sevilla are moving forward in fits and starts in the Europa League, without producing any big nights to strengthen their status as champions, albeit at the same time without any gaffes. Relatively reliable. This time they leaned on Reyes, who on Thursday came down to see the muses. José Antonio had an exquisite first half. Far, this time, from the legend that follows him, he was the player most interested in the match and, with the captain’s armband on his arm, scored a spectacular goal following a piece of play which was impossible to stop. He also hit the post with a free-kick, provided a pass to Diogo that did not result in a miracle goal and set the pace of a match that was on the edge of opening a dangerous crack for Sevilla when Mpoku equalised.

It was Sevilla with less vigour than usual. Decaffeinated in individual duels, that allowed Standard, a sloppy team, to put themselves at their level. Little Louis irritated Pareja and Carriço, who received less assistance from the midfielders this time. Nor was there continuity in their offensive game. Denis, their usual engine, arrived more organised. And Deulofeu, he of the carrot-and-stick approach, plays impulsively and left gestures that are not going to help him in the dressing room.

What did not fail Sevilla was their strategy that, as in many other European nights, opened the match with a touch from Mbia that Gameiro, who is receiving more and more minutes from Emery, drove home. The Frenchman offers mobility and a nose for goal. He smells the football, but lacks the ability to pause. Or touch. He stands before his year. Despite their inferiority, Standard offered more things than they did in Liège and believed they could take something in Nervión. There was more doubt in Sevilla, who did not sip anything and additionally lost Reyes on the way, injured after the waste of the first half, and Beto afterwards.

Sevilla, of course, finished the match a plane above their opponent physically. There emerged Mbia and Krychowiak, and there were essential changes. Vitolo and Bacca arrived how and when they wanted into the Standard area, which in the latter part of the game itself began to feel inferior and they took the defeat, which was clinched by Bacca’s goal, which without being sweet still acted as a guarantee.

The match finished amid songs in Nervión, that feels especially happy in the competition, where it feels as though it has a magical aura of sanctity. Untouchable on the night that Reyes took the violin.

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