Sevilla travelled to Real Zaragoza on Sunday knowing that three points would move them into the top four of the La Liga table.
They dominated possession in the opening half, but entered the break 2-0 behind following goals from Helder Postiga and Cristian Sapunaru.
The away side had one back after 69 minutes when Gary Medel converted from close range, but it was not enough to secure a result.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Good morning all! Here we go then. Our first La Liga commentary of Sunday pairs two sides with very different aims on their agenda. Zaragoza will be happy with another season in the top-flight, but Sevilla are expected to secure European football.
Team News: Zaragoza pair Helder Postiga and Victor Rodriguez in attack. Meanwhile, Sevilla welcome Javi Hervas back into their midfield. Full team news to follow.
Teams:
Zaragoza: Roberto; Alvaro, Loovens, Sapunaru, Minero; Movilla, Apono, Montanes, Zuculini; Postiga, Rodriguez
Sevilla: Palop; Navarro, Maduro, Botia, Cicinho; Navas, Medel, Rakitic, Hervas; Negredo, Del Moral
In terms of the recent head-to-head record between the two sides. Sevilla have won four of the last five meetings between the clubs and the last two away from home. Zaragoza's last victory over today's opponents came in February 2010.
Let's take a look at how both sides have fared in the league this season. Zaragoza began their campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Real Valladolid, but they secured their first win of the season against Espanyol one week later.
Back-to-back defeats followed against Malaga and Real Sociedad, but they secured their second three points of the season against Osasuna in late September. Successive defeats occured once more against Valencia and Getafe, but they secured a 2-1 win in their last match against Granada.
Sevilla, meanwhile, began their season with a 2-1 win over Getafe before securing back-to-back draws against Granada and Rayo Vallecano. Their unbeaten start continued against Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna. However, two defeats followed against Barcelona and Celta Vigo.
They returned to winning ways in their last league match against Mallorca when Jesus Navas and Negredo starred in a pulsating 3-2 victory. They will need those two firing today if they are to continue their solid start to the season.
Right, we have just about seven minutes until kickoff. It's time for my pre-match prediction. I am backing an away win in this one. 2-1 Sevilla. Let's hope we have a good match.
Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch ahead of kickoff. Slightly mild morning/afternoon in Spain. That will suit both teams.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Let's get the action underway at La Romareda.
Zaragoza kick us off on this mild afternoon in Spain. Just a reminder that victory for Sevilla would put them among the top four in the table.
Sevilla are enjoying the majority of possession in the early stages with Medel and Rakitic combining in midfield. The latter finds Navas down the right, but the winger is crowded out.
Sloppy defending from Sevilla so nearly allows Postiga in on goal. However, Palop clears the danger. Meanwhile, the away side continue to force the issue with a host of early corners.
Zaragoza are just struggling to keep possession of the ball at the moment. Postiga and Rodriguez are doing the leg work in attack, but the football is coming from Sevilla.
Navas continues to cause problems down the right for Sevilla. However, Alvaro and Minero combine to clear the danger for yet another corner. It is all one-way traffic at the moment.
First sign of a real attacking intent from the home side as Apono drives down the left, but his cross is cleared by Botia. Meanwhile, a host of challenges have just interrupted the flow in the past few moments.
Slightly bitty match at the moment with both sides exchanging possession in midfield. We are still waiting for our first real chance as Postiga heads a tame effort wide of the post.
Half-chance for the away side as Navas picks up possession on the right, but he cannot find the run of Negredo in the box. Those two are the obvious threat for Sevilla.
Big penalty shout from the home side as Zucilini is bundled over in the box by Botia. However, the referee waves play on. In fairness, the calls were mainly from the supporters.
Zaragoza are just starting to influence the match with Postiga their main target in attack. However, it is clear that they are wary of the counter threat from Sevilla.
Extended spell of Sevilla pressure at the moment as they camp in the Zaragoza half with a spell of corners and throw-ins. However, the home side stand up well to the threat and clear their lines.
Postiga remains busy in attack for Zaragoza, but he is feeding on scraps. There is not a great deal of football through midfield from the home side. However, their fans remain in good voice.
Not a great deal report in this one at the moment. Both sides are enjoying spells of possession, but chances have been few and far between as we approach the 30-minute mark.
Half-chance for the home side as Movilla whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Postiga just could not make contact and it drifts out for a goal-kick. No real chances for either side thus far.
Chance! Just as I say that the ball falls to Negredo outside the box, but the striker fires it wide of the target. It was poor defending from the home side. Maybe that will spark this match into life.
Zaragoza force their first effort on target as Rodriguez strikes one from outside the box, but Palop pushes it wide. The match is just starting to open up. Thankfully!
Sevilla have another sighter as Cicinho strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was straight at Roberto. It has been that kind of match thus far. It needs a bit of magic.
Meanwhile, a host of free kicks continue to interupt the flow of the match. We have seen nothing from Negredo in the Sevilla attack thus far. Little under 10 minutes of the half remaining.
GOAL! Real Zaragoza 1-0 Sevilla (Postiga)
Postiga grabs his fourth goal of the season as he pounces onto a loose ball before rounding Palop and finding the bottom corner.
It was a really smart finish from the experienced striker. However, questions will be asked about the Sevilla defence. The game needed something like that with the half approaching its climax.
Half-chance for the away side as Navas finds the head of Medel in the box, but the midfielder can only fire over the crossbar. You just get the feeling that the next goal could decide this match.
It just isn't quite happening for Sevilla at the moment. They are making good ground in advanced areas, but their final ball has let them down on more than one occasion.
GOAL! Real Zaragoza 2-0 Sevilla (Sapunaru)
Zaragoza extend their lead moments before the break as Cristian Sapunaru heads in at the back post. What a blow for Sevilla.
Meanwhile, we will play one minute of added time at the end of the half. Zaragoza will enter the break with a two-goal lead.
Real Zaragoza 2-0 Sevilla
So there we have it. Goals from Postiga and Sapunaru hand Zaragoza a 2-0 lead over Sevilla at the interval. It has been a match of few chances, but the home side have been clinical.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half. Sevilla have dominated possession with 59%, but they have had just three shots to Zaragoza's seven. Meanwhile, the home side have registered five attempts on target.
As it stands, Zaragoza would move into eighth position, just two points behind Sevilla who would remain in sixth. However, you would expect Sevilla to respond in the second period.
Just a reminder that we have a pulsating clash from La Liga to bring you this evening. Real Madrid simply have to win as they travel to Real Mallorca. Join us from 8pm for that one. Meanwhile, the second period of this clash will get underway shortly.
Here we go then. Sevilla get us underway in the second period and immediately launch the ball forward. They need a quick start.
Meanwhile, first change of the match for the away side as Maduro is replaced by Perotti. You just get the feeling that they need to score quickly if they are to rescue a result.
Postiga remains Zaragoza's biggest threat in the early stages of the second half. The striker advances down the right, but he is penalised for a foul. It was soft.
Not a great deal happening in the early stages of this half. Sevilla started well, but Zaragoza have just killed the game with a spell of possession in their own half.
Half-chance for the home side as Apono strikes an effort from outside the box, but Palop gathers the danger. Sevilla just cannot get Navas and Negredo in the match at the moment.
Chance! Suddenly Navas springs into life as he dances down the right before firing a low cross into the box, but Negredo just cannot make contact. It just needs something like that to inspire them.
It's better from Sevilla as Perotti searches out the run of Negredo, but the striker is ruled offside. There is still plenty of time for the away side to get back into this match.
Another half-chance for Sevilla as Navas finds Negredo in the box, but the striker just cannot make proper contact. Meanwhile, Postiga appears to have a problem for Zaragoza.
The Portuguese returns to his feet, but quickly hits the deck once more under the challenge of Botia. Zaragoza are breaking the play up at the moment. It's clever.
The attacking intent is all coming from Sevilla at the moment as Perotti pumps a long ball into the box, but Loovens rises to head the danger clear. Meanwhile, a host of free kicks continue to make the game scrappy.
Meanwhile, double change for Sevilla as Botia and Del Moral are replaced by Fazio and Baba. The pressure is all one-way at the moment.
There is a lot of ill-feeling as we approach the 70-minute mark. A host of fouls are interrupting the Sevilla pressure and time is not on their side. Meanwhile, Cicinho heads wide from close range.
GOAL! Real Zaragoza 2-1 Sevilla (Medel)
Gary Medel gets one back for Sevilla as his effort deflects in off the post. They are back in this!
Meanwhile, change for the home side as Zuculini is replaced by Romaric. Right, we have little under 20 minutes remaining and the match is so delicately poised.
Second change for the home side as Loovens is replaced by Javier Paredes. Zaragoza are dropping deeper and deeper and they could be made to pay.
Half-chance for Sevilla as Perotti whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Negredo just cannot make contact and Roberto gathers. You can just sense that there are still goals to come.
Zaragoza have just taken the sting out of the match with a period of possession. However, their defensive line is so deep and it is inviting Sevilla on.
Little over 10 minutes of normal time remaining and Zaragoza have possession of the ball. Meanwhile, Sevilla have a penalty shout turned down as Rodriguez is felled in the box - and he is booked for his troubles.
Half-chance for Sevilla as Rakitic fires a low cross into the penalty area, but Navas could not make contact. It really is end-to-end stuff at the moment.
Chance! Baba comes close to levelling the score as he advances into the box, but the striker is just crowded out at the vital moment. Zaragoza live to fight another day.
Meanwhile, final change for the home side as Apono is replaced by Jose Mari. Time is not on Sevilla's side as we approach the final five minutes of normal time.
Zaragoza continue to stop the flow of the game with a host of fouls. Meanwhile, they have possession in the Sevilla half with little under five minutes to play.
Postiga uses all his experience as he gains a free kick for Zaragoza in the Sevilla half. The flow of pressure from the away side just has not come since they scored their first.
Meanwhile, we will play an additional four minutes of added time. Can Sevilla create one last chance?
Sevilla continue to struggle to find their men in the attacking third. Zaragoza have possession in the away side's half and it looks to be all over. Unless...
Real Zaragoza 2-1 Sevilla
So there we have it. Real Zaragoza record just their second home win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Sevilla. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to stay with us for upcoming Premier League football. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
