Sevilla and Real Madrid faced off on Saturday in their La Liga clash at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Carlo Ancelotti's men were in dire need of a victory to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of the table, while Unai Emery's side had to win to keep their push for a Champions League place next season alive.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace in the first half to hand his team control of the game, but Sevilla hit back through a Carlos Bacca penalty just before the break.
The Portuguese completed his hat-trick in the second half and that was enough to secure the win for Madrid, despite a late goal from Vicente Iborra.
Read how all the action unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the La Liga clash between Sevilla and Real Madrid.
Real Madrid are in need of a victory this afternoon to keep the pressure on in the title race after Barcelona hammered Cordoba 8-0 in their match earlier today to move five points clear at the top of La Liga. However, Carlo Ancelotti's men know they face a massive challenge to take three points away from the Estadio Ramon.
However, if any team has a chance of coming to Sevilla to pick up a victory, it's Ancelotti's men as they have won their last six games in La Liga on the bounce, including their 3-0 triumph over Almeria during the week.
Sevilla are unbeaten in their last 10 matches in the Primera Division and are unbeaten at home this season. Their last defeat at home in the league came all the way back in February of last year when Barcelona ran out 2-1 victors. Unai Emery's team always seem to come into their peak form towards the end of the campaign and this season looks to be no different.
The teams have been announced and we'll start with the home side.
SEVILLA STARTING XI: Rico, Tremoulinas, Carrico, Kolodziejczak, Figuerias, Mbia, Krychowiak, Banega, Aleix Vidal, Reyes, Bacca
Subs: Navarro, Gameiro, Iborra, Denis Suarez, Vitolo, Coke, David Soria
Subs: Navarro, Gameiro, Iborra, Denis Suarez, Vitolo, Coke, David Soria
REAL STARTING XI: Casillas, Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Varane, Kroos, Rodriguez, Isco, Ronaldo, Hernandez
Subs: Coentrao, Bale, Navas, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese, Illarramendi
Subs: Coentrao, Bale, Navas, Arbeloa, Nacho, Jese, Illarramendi
Emery makes five changes to his team that defeated Eibar last time out as Diego Figueiras, Daniel Carrico, Benoit Tremoulinas, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Ever Banega all come into the side. Meanwhile, Coke, Alejandro Arribas, Fernando Navarro, Iborra and Iago Aspas all drop out of the team, as Aspas and Arribas drop out of the squad completely.
Gareth Bale recovers enough from his calf injury to take a place on the bench, but there is no room in Ancelotti's squad for Karim Benzema yet. Daniel Carvajal and Sergio Ramos return from suspension for the clash, while Isco, Iker Casillas and Marcelo also return to the team. Keylor Navas, Alvaro Arbeloa, Fabio Coentrao, Jese and Isier Illarramendi all drop to the bench at the Estadio Ramon.
This match is just as important for Sevilla as it is Madrid as Emery's team have hopes of securing a Champions League place. Sevilla are currently level on points with Valencia who currently occupy fourth spot, but a victory today would move the Rojablancos above them into the berth with time running out in the season.
The players are making their way out onto the pitch so we should be underway shortly.
KICKOFF! We're underway in this crucial La Liga clash.
Reyes goes on a surging run in the opening seconds of the game before he gets crowded out in the penalty area and Carvajal clears the danger.
A chance for Real to threaten as Ronaldo is bundled over 30 yards from goal by Krychowiak, which gives the Portuguese an opportunity to strike a free kick at the goal of Rico.
Ronaldo does go for goal as he gets plenty of power behind his strike, but the shot sails well over the crossbar to the jeers of the home fans.
Good start from Madrid as they are straight into a rhythm knocking the ball around their midfield and out side to the full backs, but the home side are countering with a high pressure game. Interesting start from both teams.
Casillas has to be alert as Pepe knocks the ball back to him and Reyes burst on to him to apply pressure, but the keeper remains composed to kick the ball clear with his left foot.
SHOT! Ronaldo sees a tiny pocket of space between Mbia and the Sevilla backline and he races through to threaten the edge of the box. Mbia gets back at the forward to put him off his strike as he lines up a left-footed shot, and his effort sailed over the crossbar.
SAVE! Rico makes a huge save to keep the scores level as he denies Ronaldo from point-blank range. Marcelo created the opening with sublime cross between the defence and Rico, and Ronaldo made contact with the ball, but the keeper was in the right place at the right time to make the block.
CHANCE! Sevilla push forward in numbers to the edge of the box and Reyes pokes a through ball into the feet of Aleix Vidal, who is played onside by Marcelo, and he fires a low effort at goal. However, Casillas comes up with a big stop to get enough on the ball to stop it crossing the line, while Pepe is on hand to clear away the rebound.
Aleix Vidal has success down the left again as he escapes the attention of Carvajal to fire a low ball to the edge of the box for Bacca, but Ramos is on hand to make the intervention to quell the attack. End-to-end match so far.
Both teams look extremely threatening in the final third of the pitch as Marcelo does well down the left to lift in a cross, but Carrico reads the danger well to head clear with Hernandez lurking inside the box.
Sevilla push forward again and Reyes has space on the edge of the box and his ball fall perfectly for run of Bacca to take in stride into the penalty area. The striker's touch is just too heavy and allows Casillas to rush out to the six-yard box to gather before Bacca can poke an effort at goal.
CHANCE! Vidal breaks away up the middle and has Bacca in space on the right. The forward collects the pass and fires the ball across the face of goal to the run of Reyes at the back post, but the pace of the cross is too quick for the Spaniard to make contact. What a chance for the home side.
CHANCE! Sevilla have more success down the flank as Vidal speeds past Carvajal down the left and cuts the ball back into the middle, but there is no player in white there to turn the ball past Casillas.
CHANCE! Real break on the counter and Rodriguez has the freedom of the right flank to run into. The Colombian pushes all the way into the final third before firing a low ball across the face of goal for Ronalo, who looks sure to tap the ball into the net, but Carrico is there to make the intervention on the line. The ball had beaten Rico, but the defender was there along with two other teammates to ensure the ball stayed out.
Ronaldo denied for the second time in the game and it appeared as though he wanted a penalty as he was bundled over when he struck the ball, but the referee was having none of it.
Delay in proceedings as Krychowiak and Ramos have a clash of heads as they compete for the ball in the air. Both players go to the ground and receive treatment, but the Sevilla man is forced from the field to clear up some blood and test for concussion.
The stoppage seems to have affected the tempo of the game as both sides have lost a bit of impetus after the restart.
GOAL! Sevilla 0-1 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
Madrid take the lead and it's through a sublime header from Ronaldo as he elevated himself into a good position to power a header past Rico. Marcelo did well down the left to release the run of Rodriguez, who lifted a cross to the back post for the Portuguese to net the game's opener. Great finish from Ronaldo.
GOAL! Sevilla 0-2 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
Just like that it is 2-0 in the match as Ronaldo displays his predatory instincts to steal in the back post to guide an effort past a stranded Rico to double his team's advantage. Carvajal raided down the flank and lifted the ball towards the near post where it appeared to be flicked on by Hernandez, and the Portuguese reacted first at the back post to fire the ball home.
Reyes collects the ball in the centre circle and drives forward towards the Madrid box. The Spaniard has Bacca in support and tries to feed the Colombian the ball, but the two aren't on the same page and the pass goes behind for a goal kick. Sevilla look a bit shell shocked by Ronaldo's quick-fire double.
Mbia charges towards the edge of the box, but he is halted in his tracks by a bodycheck from Ramos. The Spaniard is quite lucky to escape a booking there as he made no attempt to play the ball there.
CHANCE! From the resulting free kick, Banega lifts the ball to Vidal inside the box who decides to chest the ball into the path of Bacca rather than going for goal himself as Madrid switch off completely. However, Varane makes a crucial block to deny the striker and Madrid clear their lines.
PENALTY TO SEVILLA!
GOAL! Sevilla 1-2 Real Madrid (Bacca pen.)
A huge moment in the game and Ancelotti is furious on the sideline. His tirade will be directed at Ramos as the defender made a terrible challenge on Vidal as he raided to the byline when inside the penalty area. In truth the midfielder was going nowhere, but the Spaniard gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot. From the penalty, Bacca held his composure to send Casillas the wrong way with the final kick of the half.
HALF-TIME: Sevilla 1-2 Real Madrid
I would not want to be Sergio Ramos in the dressing room as Ancelotti looked absolutely fuming with his defender as he brought down Vidal. There was no threat of danger until the Spaniard took it upon himself to bring down the winger to hand Sevilla a way back into the match. The game couldn't have gone more to script for the visitors as two well-taken goals from Ronaldo had given them control at the Estadio Ramon, but the late penalty strike from Bacca has given Emery's men hope.
Ronaldo has been excellent today as he has threatened throughout the first half and could well have had a hat-trick or even four goals if not for a good save from Rico and a good block from Daniel Carrico. The Portuguese continues to astound with the high level of his play and Sevilla will have their work cut out to stop him in the second half.
RESTART: We're back underway in this La Liga clash.
Sevilla pressure in the early stages in the second half to earn a corner down the right, but Varane is on hand to clear Banega's delivery.
CHANCE! Sevilla keep the pressure on as they earn another corner and Banega opts to loft the ball up high towards the middle this time. Mbia beats Pepe in their aerial duel, but his header goes inches wide of the post.
SHOT! Kroos lines up an effort from distance as the Sevilla defence parts like the Red Sea, but the German's stinging effort goes inches past the post while Rico was at full stretch.
Mbia rises highest in the penalty area again from a delivery from Banega and he heads his effort into the ground and Casillas is forced to react quickly to turn his attempt over the bar. However, the attempt would not have counted anyway as the midfielder was adjudged to have fouled Pepe.
Real have a chance to threaten as Mbia brings down Rodriguez 30 yards from goal as he attempted to move past the midfielder. A decent opportunity for Ronaldo to test Rico.
Ronaldo smashes the free kick straight into the wall and the home side are able to clear the danger. A missed opportunity from the Portuguese.
Real have done well to wrestle the initiative in the game away from Emery's men as the home side had built up a lot of momentum following Bacca's strike. The visitors are controlling possession at the moment to take the sting out of the Sevilla attack.
CHANCE! Isco picks up the ball on the left and cuts back onto his right foot to arc a cross to the back post for the run of Ronaldo. The forward guides his header back across goal, but Rico reacts to the ball first to stop the danger.
Rodriguez bursts forward into plenty of space and is not closed down by the Sevilla defence. He gets to the edge of the box where he decides to shoot, but his effort is tame and blocked by Kolodziejczak before it can reach Rico.
Vidal frustrates the home fans as he has all sorts of space to run into down the left and tries to cut back into the box to find the run of Bacca, but Pepe wins the ball with ease to quell the attack.
SUBSTITUTION: Bale returns to the pitch for Madrid after two weeks out with a calf injury to replace Hernandez.
GOAL! Sevilla 1-3 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
Bale makes an instant impact on the pitch as he picks up the ball on the right and lifts a cross to the back post for Ronaldo. The Portuguese makes good contact with his header and somehow lifts it into the top corner with an incredible effort to beat Rico. A sensational goal by Ronaldo to notch his hat-trick.
SUBSTITUTION: Figuerias comes off for the home side and is replaced by Denis Suarez.
Kroos has space and time on the edge of the box again and he tries to find the back of the net with a powerful curling strike towards the top corner, but his effort goes just over the bar. A decent effort from the German.
Vidal receives the ball down the right flank and has options in the middle as Sevilla push men forward in an attempt to get back into the game, but the winger can only put his cross into the sidenetting. His teammates don't look to pleased with that effort from Vidal.
Slight break in play again as Ramos receives treatment for another knock.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Gameiro and Iborra enter the game for the home side as Bacca and Krychowiak make way with time running out in the match.
GOAL! Sevilla 2-3 Real Madrid (Iborra)
Sevilla are back in the game and Iborra makes an immediate impact from the bench as he slots the ball into the bottom corner from Vidal's cross. It was a lovely move from the home side as Gameiro released the run of the winger with an incisive through ball and the cutback from Vidal was deadly accurate, leaving Iborra with a simple finish.
Varane gets away with one as he loses control of the ball deep in his own half to Gameiro, but the defender uses his great speed to recover to win the ball from the forward just as he was about to pull the trigger. Game well and truly on at this stage.
Kroos nearly finds the net with a low drive as he latches onto a loose ball on the edge of the box, but Rico makes the save to keep his side in the match.
CHANCES! Madrid somehow keep the ball out of the net a Denis Suarez and Gameiro come within inches of forcing the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble. Gameiro was the first to be denied as his strike was saved by Casillas, but the ball was kept in play by Illrramendi and knocked into the path of Suarez, who slided to make contact with the ball, but is swerved inches past the post. How on earth did that ball not cross the line?
CHANCE! Madrid win a free kick deep in the Sevilla half and Bale whips the ball into the near post for Ronaldo, who powers a header at goal but Rico makes the save. From the rebound Ramos tries to hook the ball towards the top corner, but his effort goes wide of the target.
CHANCE! Suarez slides a through ball into the feet of Iborra, who takes a poor first touch in the box. The midfielder is in a foot race with Casillas to win the ball, but the keeper does enough to put Iborra off the shot and allow Varane to boot the ball clear. A huge opportunity for the home side.
There will be three minutes of added time.
Madrid do their best to kill the clock in the dying minutes, but Sevilla raid upfield to win a corner. Last chance of the game coming up.
Ramos heads the ball clear from the corner and Madrid hold out for the victory.
FULL-TIME: Sevilla 2-3 Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo keeps Real's title hopes alive as he nets a hat-trick to guide his team past Sevilla. It was a hugely entertaining match as the home side pressed in the dying minutes to try to salvage a point, but Ronaldo's class in front of goal was the difference between the two sides. Ancelotti's men trail Barcelona by two points in their pursuit of the top-flight crown.
Sevilla played well in the match but had no answer for Ronaldo's quality and now need a favour or two from Valencia's opponents to secure a place in the Champions League next season as they missed the chance to move back above them into fourth place in the table.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Be sure to stick with Sports Mole for all reaction from today's matches. But for now, it's goodbye.
Written by
Simon Sinclair
Simon Sinclair
