Rodrygo scored a brilliant brace as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-1 at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in both teams’ penultimate La Liga match of the season.
The hosts made a fine start as Rafa Mir scored within the opening three minutes, reacting quickest to a rebound and slamming a first-time shot into the roof of the net.
Yet Real – playing without a recognised striker and five central midfielders in the team – drew level via Rodrygo’s well-struck free kick, which left Sevilla goalkeeper Bono stranded because he guessed the Brazilian would aim for the other corner.
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Erik Lamela hit the post and missed an even better chance – scuffing over when he looked to have a tap-in – in an action-packed first half, and Sevilla were made to pay.
Rodrygo scored an excellent second goal and the winner in an otherwise forgettable second half. As Real broke from a Sevilla free kick, he twisted Gonzalo Montiel inside-out before sliding home.
Marcos Acuna was shown a late red card for a studs-up tackle as the game soured, with Sevilla seeming more interested in fouling Dani Ceballos than searching for an equaliser.
Victory means Real remain second, with 77 points, while Sevilla have 49 in 10th and their hopes of playing European football next season rest on winning Wednesday’s Europa League final.
TALKING POINT – Rodrygo shoulders the responsibility
Carlo Ancelotti sent a message with his team selection, leaving Eden Hazard on the bench despite Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema both being absent through injury. Instead it was left for Rodrygo to shoulder the attacking responsibility, playing as a false nine as he has before this season but this time without any recognised attackers for support.
It worked a treat. Rodrygo scored both goals and was also on the end of the visitors’ best chances they didn’t take, finding space with smart movement and showcasing the range of finishes which makes him suited to being Benzema’s understudy. While Hazard remained on the bench and has a Real future which is tenuous at best, Rodrygo has broken out as a legitimate star this season.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
An easy choice, given his two excellent goals. Rodrygo has nine league goals this season to go with eight assists, while in all competitions he is up to 19 goals for Real. Those are superb numbers.
PLAYER RATINGS
Sevilla: Bono 5, Montiel 7, Gudelj 6, Rekik 6, Acuna 5, Rakitic 6, Bueno 5, Gomez 5, Lamela 5, Gil 6, Mir 7. Subs: Jordan 5, Suso 4, Corona 5, Torres 5, Bade 6.
Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Vazquez 5, Alaba 6, Militao 7, Mendy 6, Tchouameni 7, Kroos 7, Ceballos 6, Modric 6, Valverde 6, Rodrygo 9. Subs: Camavinga 7, Rodriguez 5, Nacho 6, Rudiger 6.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
MIR GIVES SEVILLA THE LEAD 3′ – Sevilla make a perfect start! Acuna is played in on the left, his cross is cleared only as far as Gil who has a shot blocked, then the rebound falls to Mir who slams past Courtois with his left foot.
RODRYGO BURIES FREE KICK 29′ – Rodrygo takes a free kick and strikes brilliantly, low and curling into the corner past Bono. The Sevilla goalkeeper guessed Rodrygo would go the other way and started to move as such, leaving himself no chance given the quality of the strike.
LAMELA HITS POST 36′ – Montiel knocks a cross back to Lamela, who lets the ball run across his body then strikes left-footed and the ball comes back off the post.
LAMELA MISSES SITTER 42′ – Gomez crosses to the back post, where Lamela has got goalside of Mendy, but skies what should have been a tap-in. Lamela of course applied a left-footed finish, but because the cross came from the left it would have been easier to keep the shot down had he kicked with his right.
RODRYGO PUTS REAL AHEAD 69′ – A Sevilla free kick is cleared and Real break in a flash, with Kroos releasing Rodrygo. Montiel stands between Rodrygo and the goal, with Rodriguez up in support, but Rodrygo ties the defender in knots before slotting home. A brilliant goal.
ACUNA SENT OFF 83′ – Acuna launches himself into a tackle on Ceballos. He is late, high and displaying studs so the referee rightly produces a red card.
KEY STAT
Real Madrid have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Sevilla.
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