Read Sportstar's match blog of the La Liga encounter between Real Madrid and Sevilla at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.
THAT IS ALL FOR TODAY!! A GREAT MATCH OF FOOTBALL!! THANKS FOR TUNING IN!! GOODNIGHT!!
MATCH REPORT: Title-chasing Real snatch draw with Sevilla after VAR drama
What a game ladies and gentlemen. A match, full of ebbs and tides, with a monumental climax- this match between Real Madrid and Sevilla will be talked about in days to come.
Starting the second half with a lead, Sevilla keeper Bono blatantly fouled Benzema inside the box in what was a certain penalty. However, the drama had just begun to unfold as VAR was checking a possible handball by Militao inside his own box. After the check, the referee pointed to the spot and Rakitic successfully converted his penalty.
However, that was not the end of it. Moments before Sevilla finished the finishing line, Toni Kroos' shot got a big deflection, glanced against Eden Hazard and rolled inside Sevilla's goal much to the agony of Lopetegui's men.
The result favours Atletico, which is still perched at the top of the La Liga table.
FULL-TIME!!! FOOTBALL AT ITS FINEST!!
90+4' GOOAAAAAAAL!!!!! WHAT A GAME!!! EDEN HAZARD!!!! (Real Madrid 2 Sevilla 2) A big deflection from Kroos' shot glances Hazard and goes inside Sevilla's goal. It is given as Hazard's goal. How important will that turn out to be??? Who is writing this script?
90+1' Madrid pouring all its numbers inside Sevilla's half. Suso had to deal with a tricky cross inside his box, which he does initially spilling it.
SIX ADDITIONAL MINUTES!! That is the time Madrid has to make some impact on the title race.
85' BOOKING!! Gudelj goes into the book moments after his introduction
77' RAKITIC SCORES!!! ( Real Madrid 1- Sevilla 2) The Croatian sends Courtois the wrong way and tucks the ball in to give Sevilla, the lead. From a possible Madrid penalty after Bono fouled Benzema, it is Sevilla, which leads now. This is drama personified ladies and gentlemen.
77' ITS A PENALTY TO SEVILLA. BENZEMA IS DENIED. EX-BARCELONA PLAYER IVAN RAKITIC TO TAKE IT.
74' Incredible drama. Both teams with a possible penalty shout!!!
67' GOOOOAAAALLLLL!!!! ITS ASENSIO!! WHAT AN IMPACT!! WHAT A FINISH!! (Real Madrid 1 Sevilla 1) Marco Asensio makes an impact within a minute of coming on. Kroos with a lovely through ball to Asensio who curls the ball first time in Sevilla's goal beautifully.
65' WHAT A CHANCE!! How did Vinicius miss that? A very well worked corner by Madrid. Modric lobs the ball to Kroos to squared it to Vinicius. He just had to tap it in but he fluffed his chance.
60' SHOT!! Casemiro with a long-range effort again. He can score from long distance thats for sure. Madrid coming at Sevilla's goal in numbers.
55' BOOKING!! Suso becomes the second player to go into the referee's book after a crunching challenge on Vinicius.
53' PENALTY SHOUT!! Madrid players appeal for a penalty as they are confident that the ball struck Carlos' hand inside the box but VAR says nothing doing.
52' SHOT!! Luka Modric makes space for himself and hits a stinging shot at Bono. The keeper punches it out for a corner.
49' The urgency is visible in Zidane's men but the champion has not been able to pose any substantial threat on Sevilla's goal in the second half.
46' SHOT!! Acuna with a bold effort at Madrid's goal in the early stages of the second half as Odriozola's fumble with the ball allowed Acuna to capitalise and shoot at Courtois.
SECOND HALF BEGINS!!!
After a positive start from both teams, the Real Madrid camp rejoiced when Benzema's header from an Odriozola's cross beat Sevilla keeper Bono. However, it was disallowed as Odriozola was found to be marginally offside before assisting Benzema.
The disallowed goal certainly came back to haunt Real Madrid as Sevilla took the lead through Fernando 10 minutes later after a well-worked set-piece saw Fernando receive the ball inside Madrid's half and score Sevilla's first goal after burying his shot past Courtois after showing brilliant footwork to negate Casemiro's challenge on him.
However, history does not favour Sevilla with its last away win against Madrid coming in December 2008. Lopetegui's men have a long way to go
45' HALF-TIME (NO TIME ADDED). Stay tuned for the second half!!
44' CHANCE!! Papu Gomez with a lovely delivery from the right-flank, which found Kounde's head but his header was straight at Courtois.
41' SHOT!! Casemiro with a long-range shot again but its not on target. Madrid cannot be blamed for the lack of trying.
39' A prolonged period of pressure by Madrid in the vicinity of Sevilla's box. Madrid's midfield maestros Modric and Kroos trying to feed balls through the channels but Sevilla maintaining its defensive shape quite well.
34' Real Madrid initiating most of its play from the flanks. The idea seems to use Benzema's aerial capability to try and hurt Sevilla.
32' SHOT!! Karim Benzema posing the threat again. A lovely turn on receiving a pass from Marcelo, which he shot at Bono's near-post but the height of the shot was comfortable enough for keeper who made the save.
29' Vinicius trying to be cheeky as he cut in from the left flank and tried to lob it over Sevilla keeper Bono but the ball sails over the crossbar.
25' SHOT- Casemiro with a low driving shot but it is straight at Bono. Real Madrid trying its best to get the equaliser as soon it can and tilt the balance its way again.
22' GOOOAAALLL!!!! ITS SEVILLA. ITS FERNANDO. AND IT COUNTS!! (Real Madrid 0 Sevilla 1) Just when it seemed like Madrid had taken control of the game, Sevilla takes the lead from a wonderfully worked free-kick. That was some nimble footwork in the Madrid box by Fernando.
21' BOOKING!!! Casemiro gets a yellow card
15' Real Madrid operating on a different gear altogether after that cancelled goal. Sevilla's defence looks untidy as Madrid increases its tempo of play.
12' GOAL NOT GIVEN!!! Benzema's header from Odriozola's cross will not count as the Spanish international was deemed offside by VAR when he was played by Vinicius
11' FOUL- Vinicius fouled by Suso in the centre of the park. Just a free-kick.
9' Early indications show that Real Madrid is looking to soak the pressure from its opponent. Zidane's men seem content with Sevilla enjoying most of the possession. Vinicius will surely be on the prowl to hit Sevilla on the counter with his blistering pace.
7' Sevilla enjoying majority of the possession in the early stages. Some lovely pressing by Lopetegui's men after losing possession.
4' Lovely run from Papu Gomez as he slithered his way through the Real Madrid defence but Militao stopped him in his tracks with a sturdy shoulder tackle.
3' Positive start from both teams as the match has a nice tempo in its opening minutes.
1' KICK-OFF
12.30 IST- AND WE ARE UNDERWAY!!!!
12.15 IST- More stats for you with 15 minutes to kick-off
12.00 IST- The Los Blancos' pre-match warm up
11:50 IST- STAT BOX
11:30 IST- LINEUPS ARE OUT!!!
Real Madrid: Courtois, Odriozola, Militao, Nacho, Marcelo (C), Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Benzema.
Coach: Zinedine Zidane
Sevilla: Bono, Navas (C), Koundé, Carlos, Acuña, Fernando, Rakitic, Jordan, Suso, Papu Gómez, Ocampos.
Coach: Julen Lopetegui
A chance for Real Madrid to go level on points with league-leader and city rival, Atletico. The stakes couldn't be higher !!!
Match Preview
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has said he will make any decision that the it wishes to take about his position "easy" for the club.
The Frenchman, who has won three Champions League trophies and two La Liga titles in two spells as Real coach, could find his future under threat should Real end the season trophyless.
The La Liga champion was dumped out of the Copa del Rey by third tier Alcoyano in January and was defeated comfortably by Chelsea in its Champions League semi-final this week.
READ: Ramos suffers hamstring injury, may have played last game for Real
It is second in la Liga, two points behind Atletico Madrid, and require its city rival to slip up if it is to stand a chance of retaining its crown.
"Let's just finish this season. What I will say is that I'll make things easy for the club, always, because they've always given me everything," Zidane told a news conference on Saturday.
"I'll make things very easy, but right now we are all focused on the four remaining games and ending the season well. That's what motivates me. All the rest is just talk."
Real hosts fourth-placed Sevilla on Sunday as it bids to remain in the title race, but it will be without captain Sergio Ramos who has picked up a hamstring injury.
The centre back joined fellow defenders Rafael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez on the sidelines.
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