An early penalty has given Brighton & Hove Albion a 1-0 win over La Liga side Sevilla in a pre-season friendly at the Amex Stadium.

The home side were handed a chance to open the scoring with just over quarter of an hour gone as Tomer Hemed was shoved in the penalty area, allowing the Israel international to send the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Things got worse for Sevilla soon after as Jose Antonio Reyes picked up a head injury, resulting in Yehven Konoplyanka coming off the bench.

David Stockdale was called into action in the Brighton goal when Mato unleashed a shot from 25 yards out, but the keeper pulled off a one-handed stop to keep it out.

Brighton had a couple of chances to double their lead before the break as Solly March tried to find Hemed with a through-ball, before Dale Stephens blasted the ball high.

Sevilla continued to press for the equaliser, though, as Ever Banega forced a diving save from Stockdale before Michael Krohn-Dehli drilled the ball just wide of the post.

The Championship side could have added a second just moments after the restart as Beram Kayal saw Sergio Rico spill his shot, but the Spanish side managed to scramble the ball clear.

Sevilla started to look dangerous again inside the final half hour as they tried to get back on level terms, but Coke's volley from the edge of the box did not trouble Stockdale.

The Brighton keeper was needed with just over 10 minutes still to play when Vitolo thumped the ball towards the home side's goal, but Stockdale kicked it clear with is feet while diving.

Kayal tried to put the win beyond doubt with just a couple of minutes remaining when he directed a dipping effort towards the Sevilla goal, but Rico parried it before gathering at the second time of asking.