Sevilla 1-2 Real Madrid: Carlo Ancelotti’s side bounce back from behind

The brilliant Rodrygo made sure Real Madrid didn’t miss Vinicius at the Sanchez Pizjuan as they beat Sevilla 2-1 in their penultimate game of the season.

Real Madrid were without Vinicius and Karim Benzema, but it didn’t matter as Rodrygo scored his eighth and ninth goals of the season.

The first was a direct free kick on 29 minutes from the edge of the box. Sevilla keeper Bono was unsure whether to expect a left-footed free-kick from David Alaba or a right-footed goal from the Brazilian and couldn’t get over in time to block out Rodrygo’s goal.

The winner was an even better goal. Real Madrid broke defending a free kick with Rodrygo swiftly moving the ball to Luka Modric, who played it to Toni Kroos. His pass played Rodrygo back in and he spun and twisted the back-kicking Montiel dizzily behind before rolling his shot past Bono.

Sevilla had started brilliantly with Rafa Mir scoring his sixth goal of the season after just three minutes and they had chances to extend their lead, but Erik Lamela’s shot came back off the post.

Coach Jose Luis Mendilibar warned ahead of the match that anyone who doesn’t put their foot in it may not play in the team’s Europa League final against Roma on Wednesday. The players certainly took that to heart – some perhaps a little too much.

Marcos Acuna was sent off late in the second half for a horrific foul on Dani Ceballos.

Despite the response from the Sevilla bench urging the referee to check his decision on the pitch monitor, they will change their mind once they see the answer for themselves. Acuna is suspended and will not play on Wednesday, but Montiel followed his compatriot’s example and also went through Ceballos, risking another red card. He made no contact and there was no warning.

Madrid were worth their three points and it was remarkable that despite missing Vinicius and Benzema, as well as missing Marco Asensio, there were no minutes for Eden Hazard.

Carlo Ancelotti has said he will talk to the Belgian about what he needs to do to play more football next season. There was some suggestion that he might only get his third start in this game, but as it was, he never warmed up that much.

Madrid are now four points ahead of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone’s side will play on Sunday but will struggle to catch their neighbors who will play Athletic Bilbao in their final game of the season.

For Sevilla they finish their league match at Real Sociedad, but no one thinks about that match. All attention is now on a titanic battle with Jose Mourinho’s Roma in Budapest on Wednesday.