2-2: SEVILLA FORCED TO SETTLE FOR A POINT AFTER AN INITAL FIGHT BACK OVER LEGANES
SEVILLA vs LEGANES
In a rollercoaster LaLiga clash at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, Sevilla FC and CD Leganés played out a frenetic 2-2 draw that encapsulated the unpredictability and emotional swings of football. The match, marked by early setbacks, spirited comebacks, and late drama, saw Sevilla’s hopes of securing a much-needed home victory dashed despite their relentless efforts. Former Sevilla star Munir El Haddadi struck within the opening seven minutes to give Leganés the lead, a bitter blow for the home faithful who were haunted by the return of one of their own. Sevilla responded with resilience, equalizing through a towering header from Kike Salas before surging ahead in the second half with a goal from substitute Isaac Romero. However, the jubilation was fleeting, as Javi Hernández’s equalizer for Leganés just four minutes later silenced the Sánchez-Pizjuán and ensured the points were shared. Despite a late flurry of chances, Sevilla’s inability to convert left them with yet another draw at home, extending their frustrating run in the league and leaving fans yearning for a breakthrough. The match was a microcosm of Sevilla’s season—moments of brilliance tempered by lapses that cost them dearly, as they battled to find consistency in a fiercely competitive campaign.
The game began in the worst possible fashion for Sevilla, as CD Leganés, buoyed by the return of Munir to his former stomping ground, seized the lead almost immediately. Just seven minutes into the contest, Munir stepped up to take a free kick from a dangerous position on the left flank. His delivery was whipped with pace and precision, catching Sevilla’s goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland off guard. Nyland, expecting a cross, misjudged the trajectory and failed to react as the ball sailed past him into the net, sending the small contingent of Leganés supporters into raptures. The early goal stunned the Sánchez-Pizjuán, with the home crowd’s initial enthusiasm giving way to murmurs of frustration. Munir, who had spent several seasons at Sevilla before departing, refrained from celebrating but his strike was a painful reminder of his quality and the threat posed by Leganés’s counterattacking style. Sevilla, determined to shake off the setback, gradually found their footing, with Suso and Dodi Lukebakio emerging as the focal points of their attacking endeavors. Suso, in particular, was a constant menace, his quick feet and incisive passing stretching Leganés’s defense. The equalizer arrived on the 20-minute mark, born from a well-executed set piece. Suso’s pinpoint corner found Kike Salas, who rose above his marker to deliver a bullet header that left Leganés goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović rooted to the spot. The goal restored parity and reignited the crowd, as Sevilla sensed an opportunity to assert their dominance at home.
As the first half progressed, Sevilla grew in confidence, controlling possession and creating opportunities to take the lead. Lukebakio, deployed on the right wing, was a persistent threat, using his pace and directness to trouble Leganés’s backline. A series of half-chances came and went, with Suso’s curling effort narrowly missing the target and García Pascual, making his first home start, seeing a header from Adrià Pedrosa’s cross comfortably gathered by Dmitrović. Leganés, while dangerous on the break, struggled to replicate their early intensity, with Munir’s goal proving to be their only shot on target in the opening period. Sevilla’s defensive unit, marshaled by the experienced Nemanja Gudelj, held firm, ensuring that Nyland was rarely tested after his early error. The half-time whistle blew with the score level at 1-1, a fair reflection of a half where Sevilla had recovered from a shaky start but lacked the clinical edge to capitalize on their dominance. The home fans, while encouraged by the equalizer, knew that their team needed to be more ruthless in the second half to secure a vital three points in their quest to climb the LaLiga table.
The second half began with Sevilla intent on completing their turnaround, and they came out of the blocks with renewed vigor. Lukebakio, who had been a thorn in Leganés’s side, nearly handed Sevilla the lead when he latched onto a through ball and found himself one-on-one with Dmitrović. The former Sevilla goalkeeper, however, stood tall, denying Lukebakio with a smart save to keep the scores level. Moments later, another chance fell to Lukebakio from a corner, but his shot, taken under pressure, skidded narrowly wide of the post, prompting groans from the stands. Sevilla’s pressure was relentless, and their persistence was rewarded in the 65th minute when manager Joaquín Caparrós, who had already introduced Juanlu, Gudelj, and Isaac Romero from the bench, saw his substitutions pay dividends. Isaac, a lively presence since coming on, latched onto a precise pass from Suso and surged into the box. With defenders converging, the young striker kept his composure, slotting the ball past Dmitrović to send the Sánchez-Pizjuán into delirium. The goal, Sevilla’s first lead of the match, was a testament to their attacking intent and the impact of Caparrós’s tactical tweaks. For a moment, it seemed as though Sevilla were on course to secure a crucial home victory, with the crowd roaring their approval and the players feeding off the electric atmosphere.
The joy, however, proved to be short-lived, as Leganés struck back with devastating speed to level the scores just four minutes later. The equalizer came from a set piece, as Leganés capitalized on a rare lapse in Sevilla’s defensive organization. A deep free kick was whipped into the box, where Javi Hernández, unmarked at the back post, rose to power a header past Nyland. The goal was a gut punch for Sevilla, who had barely finished celebrating Isaac’s strike before finding themselves pegged back. The Sánchez-Pizjuán fell silent, with the momentum swinging firmly in Leganés’s favor. The equalizer exposed Sevilla’s vulnerability at set pieces, a recurring issue that had plagued them throughout the season, and it sapped the morale of a team that had fought so hard to take the lead. Caparrós, visibly frustrated on the touchline, urged his players to regroup, but the psychological blow was evident as Sevilla struggled to regain their earlier fluency. Leganés, sensing an opportunity to snatch an unlikely victory, began to press with greater intensity, with Munir and Juan Cruz combining to create openings that kept Sevilla’s defense on edge.
In the final stages, Sevilla threw everything at Leganés in a desperate bid to find a winner. Lukebakio, who had been involved in much of Sevilla’s attacking play, spurned two gilt-edged chances, first firing over the bar from a tight angle and then seeing a low drive deflected wide by a last-ditch tackle. Juanlu, another substitute, also came close, his curling effort from the edge of the box forcing Dmitrović into a sprawling save. Despite their late pressure, Sevilla’s profligacy in front of goal proved costly, as Leganés’s defense, marshaled superbly by Sergio González, held firm to secure a hard-earned point. The final whistle sparked a chorus of boos from sections of the home crowd, who were frustrated by yet another draw at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. For Sevilla, the result was a missed opportunity to build momentum in their push for a European spot, leaving them to reflect on a performance that promised much but ultimately delivered only a point. Leganés, meanwhile, celebrated a resilient display that showcased their ability to compete with LaLiga’s heavyweights, with Munir’s early strike and Hernández’s equalizer earning them a share of the spoils. As Sevilla turned their attention to their next fixture, the draw served as a stark reminder of the fine margins that define success in Spain’s top flight.
