Sevilla welcomed Freiburg to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this evening as they looked to secure back-to-back wins at the start of their Europa League adventure.
After a tight first half with no goals, it was the Spanish team who eventually came up trumps, thanks largely to a penalty conceded by Fallou Diagne.
The defender was sent off for his troubles, and Diego Perotti put Unai Emery's men in front.
A late goal from Carlos Bacca wrapped things up in Seville, meaning they are still top of Group H.
You can read how events unfolded by scrolling down.
Good evening! Welcome to Sports Mole for live coverage of this evening's Europa League Group H clash between Sevilla and Freiburg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
We have some team news for you...
SEVILLA: Javi Varas, Cala, Figueiras, Moreno, Paraja, Rikitic, Iborra, Trochowski, Samperio, Bacca, Perotti
FREIBURG: Baumann, Diagne, Coquelin, Sorg, Ginter, Gunter, Fernandes, Hofler, Albutat, Hanke, Klaus
SEVILLA BENCH: Beto, Fazio, Coke, Marin, Cristoforo, Rabello, Gameiro
FREIBURG BENCH: Schwolow, Schrami, Hohn, Kerk, Stanko, Mehmedi, Freis
FREIBURG BENCH: Schwolow, Schrami, Hohn, Kerk, Stanko, Mehmedi, Freis
That's a strong subs bench for the hosts, which includes Federico Fazio, Coke, Marko Marin and Kevin Gameiro. Unai Emery certainly has options should things not be working out for his team.
These two sides have never met before, but Sevilla do have a brilliant record against German opposition, winning seven, drawing five and losing just two of their 14 encounters.
This is Freiburg's first appearance in European competition since losing to Feyenoord in the third round of the 2001-2002 UEFA Cup. The Dutch team went on to win the competition that year, beating Borussia Dortmund in the final on their own patch in Rotterdam.
This will be the German side's fifth away match in Europe. In their four previous trips abroad, they have won one, lost one and drawn two.
REFEREE: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia)
Right, we're all ready for kickoff. Here we go!
KICKOFF! Sevilla get the game underway. Freiburg, who are playing a Spanish team for the first time, have made five changes from the side that lost 5-0 to Borussia Dortmund at the weekend. They'll need to pull the proverbial rabbit from the hat to take anything from this game. Although Sevilla themselves have hardly set La Liga alight so far this season.
Sevilla win an early corner but it's taken short and nothing comes of it. It's the hosts who have started on the front foot, as you'd imagine. They're stroking the ball around in a controlled manner.
It's been a slow start to the game. Both teams have strung a few passes together but there hasn't been much of substance so far. Sevilla will have to be the team forcing the issue, otherwise you'd imagine Freiburg will be happy to stay in their shell.
SHOT! Gunter wins the ball just inside his own half and feeds Hanke to shoot, but his effort doesn't trouble Javi Varas, who gathers it at the second attempt.
Christian Streich has packed his midfield tight this evening and Seville are struggling to find a forward pass. Rakitic has already misplaced a few from deep.
Sevilla have had 59% of possession but it's all been from deep. Freiburg are squeezing the play well by playing a high line and keeping a solid 4-5-1 shape without the ball. The action is just a bit stilted at the moment, but the German team will be happy with their opening 15 minutes.
SHOT! Hanke turns his marker nicely and gets a shot away but Varas saw it all the way and makes a comfortable save.
The hosts are still struggling to find their range with long passes. Juan Cala is the latest to needlessly give possession away.
SAVE! Finally Sevilla create a chance. It's a nice move into the box that sees Trochowski slip Bacca through to shoot across Baumann, but the keeper gets his fingertips to it. Very good save.
UPDATE! Slovan Liberec have taken the lead against Estoril in the Czech Republic in tonight's other game in Group H.
SHOT! Klaus forces Varas to make another save, although it was a fairly comfortable one. The forward did well to receive the ball and squeeze a shot off as he was being closed down, but it was at a nice height at the near post for the keeper.
It's been very even in the first 30 minutes. Sevilla have had the lion's share of possession but the German team are acquitting themselves well in defence. Still, the home side have created the best chance of the game so far.
That's better from Sevilla. Rakitic cuts out Gunter with a nice ball out wide for Perotti, but his ball into the box can't quite find Bacca in the centre, as Baumann is off his line quickly to claim the ball. Decent goalkeeping.
CLOSE! Great ball to the back post from Rakitic, who put plenty of whip on it with his right foot. Bacca closes in and is only a yard or two from getting his boot on it.
Freiburg have just become a big ragged in the last few minutes and that's giving Sevilla some confidence. They're starting to probe with more purpose now.
CHANCE! Cala slices open the Freiburg defence with a lovely ball through for Trochowski. The winger lobs the ball in for Bacca to nod into an empty net, but Ginter makes an excellent recovery to clear the danger just as it looked like his team was about to concede. Excellent defending!
Albutat wins a free kick for Freiburg on the edge of the Sevilla area. Dangerous position. There was a bit of theatrics from the German. Replays show minimal contact, but maybe just enough to warrant a free kick.
Klaus takes the set piece but hits the wall. The ball falls invitingly for Gelson Fernandes but again Sevilla have enough bodies in the way to block the shot before it reaches Javi Varas. A bit of a waste.
A lovely floated ball from Trochowski finds Rakitic in the box. He brings it down on his chest, checking inside Gunter, but the ball inadvertently hits his arm. Baumann made a great save to deny the Croatian international, but the referee had long since blown his whistle.
CHANCES! Sevilla really threatening now, they've found their stride just before half time! Firstly Trochowski is denied by Baumann, who has been on top form in this first half. Then Perotti got in down the right once more but Bacca was inches from getting his studs to the cross.
HALF TIME: Sevilla 0-0 Freiburg
Well it was a drab opening 30-35 minutes until Sevilla began to show their mettle. They're the only team looking to win the game, with Freiburg content to sit back and protect a point. It's a dangerous game, especially with the talent available to Unai Emery. A few of his big guns are on the bench, so how long will he wait before making a change?
SEVILLA STATS:
Shots: 6
On target: 4
Possession: 54%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 2
Yellow: 0
Red: 0
Shots: 6
On target: 4
Possession: 54%
Corners: 3
Fouls: 2
Yellow: 0
Red: 0
FREIBURG STATS:
Shots: 3
On target: 3
Possession: 46%
Corners: 0
Fouls: 2
Yellow: 0
Red: 0
Shots: 3
On target: 3
Possession: 46%
Corners: 0
Fouls: 2
Yellow: 0
Red: 0
The statistics tell a story of a rather even game, which it was until the 30-minute mark. After that, Sevilla stepped up a gear and began to create some chances. They had lacked any urgency and cohesion until that point. Still, they finished strongly and probably should be ahead at the break.
In tonight's other game in Group H it's all square between Slovan Liberec and Estoril in Czech Republic. The hosts took the lead after 15 minutes through Josef Sural, but Luis Leal equalised for the Portuguese outfit on the stroke of half time.
Two results are already in from Russia, with Valencia and Tottenham Hotspur beating Kuban Krasnodar and Anzhi Makhachkala respectively.
Right, we're ready for the second half at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. No changes for either side at the break.
RESTART! Freiburg resume play in the second half...
Moreno wins a free kick from Klaus on the left byline. Needless foul. It gives Rakitic the chance to deliver the ball into the box.
It's not a good ball in from Rakitic and Freiburg easily clear their lines. Only so far, though, as the ball comes back in from Cala. Bacca takes a snap shot but it's blocked by Ginter.
SHOT! Figueiras is allowed to drift inside and unleash a stinging drive at Baumann's near post, which the keeper tips behind for a corner.
Once again Rakitic's set-piece delivery is found wanting. He's wasted a few chances this evening.
Albutat is on the ground - not for the first time this evening - clutching his head. He has taken any opportunity to hit the deck. He got himself off with a yellow card for a bit of a nasty challenge on Figueiras just after the break with a bit of play acting.
BOOKING! Iborra is the first man into the book this evening.
BOOKING! Iborra is quickly followed by Diagne.
SEVILLA SUB: Marko Marin makes his way onto the pitch in place of Piotr Trochowski.
CHANCE! Rakitic plays a perfectly weighted ball through for Figueiras, who checks inside Diagne and tries to square for Bacca. He probably should have been more selfish, as he gave the Freiburg defence too much time to recover. Ginter was the man who cleared once again. He's been a rock tonight.
FREIBURG SUBS: Francis Coquelin and Tim Albutat make way for Sebastian Kerk and Admir Mehmedi.
PENALTY TO SEVILLA!
RED CARD! (Fallou Diagne)
GOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Freiburg (Diego Perotti)
Relief around the Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla lead! It was a ball over the top that proved Freiburg's undoing, as Bacca skipped through unchecked. He cut back inside the recovering Diagne, who made no effort to win the ball in taking a clump of his shirt and dragging him to the deck. Minutes after receiving a yellow, he is then given a straight red. Perotti makes no mistake from 12 yards, but receives a booking for taking his shirt off in celebration.
UPDATE! Slovan Liberec have retaken the lead against Estoril in the Czech Republic through Radoslav Kovac.
Freiburg, now a goal and a man down, will be performing damage limitation. Sevilla are already taking advantage of the extra space. Marin hangs a ball in the box for Bacca but his header is too high.
FREIBURG SUB: Felix Klaus makes way for Sebastian Freis.
CHANCE! A rare opportunity for the German side, and Gunter should really have done better! It was a nice ball through from Freis that had the Sevilla defence backtracking but the defender miscues his shot under slight pressure from Pareja.
SEVILLA SUB: Bryan Rabello comes on to replace Diego Perotti.
SHOT! Rakitic comes forward with the ball and is allowed to shoot, but Baumann beats the ball away with both hands. Safe goalkeeping rather than spectacular. He was right behind it.
Figueiras is sent racing down the right but his cross is behind Bacca. The serve into the striker hasn't been the best this evening, it has to be said.
Excellent run by Moreno down the left and his cross is taken down nicely by Samperio, but Ginter once again gets himself in the way of the shot.
CLOSE! Freis's square ball nearly finds Hanke but Figueiras is across to make a vital block. He's been excellent tonight.
CHANCE! That was an opportunity to kill the game wasted by Marin. Another great piece of play from Figueiras, this time in the attacking third, set him u one on one with Baumann, but he went for a delicate chip which went onto the bar. A bit too casual from the German.
OFF THE BAR! Ohhhh no nearly a beautiful finish from Bacca! He was slipped through by Rakitic and went for a chip, but watched on as it bounced off the top of the bar. Unlucky!
CHANCE! Figueiras and Samperio combine to tee up Bacca, who goes for a spectacular overhead kick. However, it was a poor effort. He kicked it against himself.
GOAL! Sevilla 2-0 Freiburg (Carlos Bacca)
Beautiful football from Samperio, who has largely been a passenger this evening. He shows tricky feet to dodge a couple of challenges in the middle of the park before a frightening turn of pace takes his clear of the Freiburg defence. He shows good awareness to square for Bacca to roll into an empty net. Finally the Colombian has his goal.
FULL TIME: Sevilla 2-0 Freiburg
That was virtually the last kick of the game. It ends 2-0 to Sevilla but it could, and probably should, have been a lot more.
Thanks for joining us at Sports Mole for that match. The evening is not yet over; we have more to come from tonight's 8.05pm kickoffs, so don't go anywhere just yet!
Written by
Michael Penkman
Michael Penkman
