Argentinean link-up sets Sevilla on the way to an impressive win over rejuvenated Valencia

Sevilla thumped Valencia 3-1 with a storming first-half performance that left Valencia no chance at Ramon Sanchez Pisjuan on Wednesday night. They scored three goals in 22 minutes and more than deserved the points against a decent Valencia team - and remained unbeaten this season!

Of Sevilla’s strong starting eleven, it was the Argentine contingent that outshone the rest. Their exploits saw the hosts go in front after just three minutes, with Papu Gómez fully exploiting Erik Lamela’s orchestrated pass and converting it into the bottom right-hand corner. Just 12 minutes later, Sevilla’s Gonzalo Montiel played an enterprising cross, which caught out a bewildered Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian allowed the ball to bounce over him, though an unforgiving deflection off Toni Lato more than played its part.

Rafa Mir all but secured the win for Sevilla after 22 minutes, as the Spanish international took full advantage of an overwhelmed Mamardashvili, elegantly lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. Valencia looked devoid of ideas without the injured trio of Jose Gaya, Carlos Soler and Dennis Cheryshev, but they were handed a lifeline after 31 minutes, as Hugo Duro’s deflected effort left Yassine Bounou helpless, to reduce the deficit before HT.

Aiming to kill off any sense of a fightback from Valencia, Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui introduced the experienced trio of Jesus Navas, Ivan Rakitic, and Youssef En-Nesyri off the substitutes bench. It was a move that settled the tempo of an even second half, though Gómez somehow failed to underline Sevilla’s victory in the latter stages, embarrassingly firing over the bar after finding himself in space inside the penalty area.

With this result, Sevilla have extended their curious unbeaten record on Wednesday evenings in La Liga to eight games. For their part, Valencia extended their woeful record against Andalusian sides to nine games without a victory, with the Bats' encouraging start to the season now flying off the tracks with disquieting speed.

LA LIGA - Round 6

Tuesday

Getafe - Atletico Madrid 1-2 (1-0)

/Mitrovic 45 - Suarez 78, 90/

Wednesday

Espanyol - Alaves 1-0 (0-0)

/De Tomas 54/

Sevilla - Valencia 3-1 (3-1)

/Gomez 3, Lato 15 og, Mir 22 - Duro 31/

Real Madrid - Mallorca

Villareal - Elche

Thursday

20.30: (2.45) Osasuna (3.20) Betis (3.00)

20.30: (3.60) Granada (3.35) Sociedad (2.10)

23.00: (5.70) Cadiz (4.00) Barcelona (1.60)

***odds are subject to change