Sevilla defeated a very weak Rayo thanks to two penalty goals, scored by Guridi and Peque, who capped off his good game in the 97th minute. The second goal came with the Madrid team in numerical superiority due to the expulsion of Kike Salas in the 88th minute. A loss of the ball by Pedro Díaz allowed Manu Bueno to pass the ball to debutant Ure. The Scot earned the penalty against a clumsy Lejeune and Peque executed Rayo, who collapsed in a rather discreet second half. Sevilla, in inferiority and with multiple limitations, won the match fairly to the delight of their fans, quite annoyed by their team’s play in the first half. That’s football. Sevilla enjoyed their first three points and Rayo gives the impression that they will miss Íñigo Pérez a lot. Beñat San José has a lot of work ahead.
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Sevilla, a jelly in the first half, improved a lot in the second, thanks to Peque’s football and the collapse of an out-of-form Rayo. The Madrid team took the lead with a goal from Álvaro García after a monumental mistake by debutant Sangante. Rayo had neither the football nor the strength to maintain their advantage, with players like Isi, De Frutos, or Álvaro himself far from their best version. Sevilla, full of youth players, had faith and strength to find the equalizer in a penalty scored by Guridi after a foul by Álvaro on Sierra and the win with another final penalty scored by Peque while playing with one less player.
Sevilla faces a complicated dilemma ahead. It is a team that has lost a lot of quality in recent years and has taken an even bolder step this season. Without guaranteed signings arriving and with their best players, such as Akor Adams, Sow, or Gudelj, already gone, they have put themselves in the hands of a group of youngsters to navigate a category as tough as the First Division. Up to five youth players, some newly arrived, like Nico or Sierra, appeared to support Sevilla against Rayo, who, although they arrived in Nervión without any signings, do have a team established in the First Division. Amid this bet appeared Sangante, who arrived this summer, gifting a goal to Álvaro García in the third minute. The central defender’s legs trembled, offering a very discreet image in his debut with Sevilla.
It was a complicated scenario for the Andalusians, with very little football in midfield, no players of hierarchy, and very little presence in attack. However, Rayo did not press too much either. At the start of the season, teams are still not sharp. That gave some life to Sevilla, lifted by their fans, with some grit from players like Isaac or Sierra. Very little, almost nothing, to navigate at the elite level. De Burgos disallowed a goal by Isi and then awarded a penalty to Sevilla that VAR, quite logically, annulled. The referee was not sharp, nor were the two teams. The hope of the crowd was on the bench when the Scot Ure, newly signed, began warming up on the sideline. The rest of the first half, for Sevilla fans, was enough to make them tremble.
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Sevilla improved a lot in the second half. Peque and debutant Ure gave the team a new breath. García Plaza placed Guridi in the center and Peque’s play finally created some danger in Rayo’s area. The visitors also took a nap that cost them dearly. Rayo wanted to keep their advantage but gradually ceded ground, and an error by Álvaro when hitting Sierra caused Guridi to equalize from the penalty spot. The match then entered a phase of equality, which should have been broken in favor of Rayo after Kike Salas’ red card in the 88th minute. There were two minutes left to the end and seven more added. Rayo only threatened with a very distant free kick from Lejeune that Odysseas saved.
With everything in their favor, Pedro Díaz lost the ball to Manu Bueno. The youth player passed it to Ure and the silly penalty by Lejeune followed. This very discreet Sevilla had reasons to be happy. Rayo has a lot of work ahead. They lost a match that should never have slipped away.
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| Standings | PT | PJ | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Standings | PT | PJ | PG | PE | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
