Real Madrid 2-2 Sevilla: result, goals, summary - 2020/21 LaLiga

So a roller-coaster LaLiga clash at Valdebebas ends al square. A draw that, to be honest does neither team any favours.

Modric: "We're still united and will keep battling right to the end"

Post game: Modric: "The feeling is that we've let two points slip"

Live LaLiga table

The 2-2 draw pretty much rules Sevilla out of the title race (albeit not mathematically) . Three games to go and the next round of action starts on Tuesday with Levante-FC Barcelona.

Whistle sounds at Valdebebas and it's now advantage At. Madrid on 75 points. Atleti head to Granada and Madrid face Athletic at San Mames midweek. My word...what a title race !

Hazard awarded with the goal as Casemiro almost makes it 3-2!

Bono totally wrong-footed with the ball striking Hazard on its way towards the goal mouth.

Gooooooool Kroos shoots and the ball is deflected into the Sevilla net

Four of the six left and Madrid look jaded.

The nerves of Atletico Madrid fans will be absolutely frazzled at this point with Diego Simenone's men now looking back at the draw at Camp Nou in a different manner.

It's 6... We'll head to the 96 minute mark

Into the final minute of normal time at the Alfredo di Stefano. Madrid need at least one goal to be alive in the title race. How much time to be added .... 5/6 minutes at least I'd say.

Rakitic and Ocampos off for De Jong and Torres on.

It's been a roller-coaster game here at Valdebebas with the game shifting on a number of occasions twoards both teams

Sevilla still looking that bit fresher as the clock ticks towards the 90 minute mark

Six minutes remain. Huge sense of urgency now from the home side as Gudelj is carded 

Changes for Sevilla: Gudelj and Oscar set to come on..... Suso and Jordan set to exit

Ten minutes remain at Valdebebas .... massive ten minutes for Zidane's men

My word! What drama here at Valdebebas. Has that Rakitic goal changed the course of this title race?

Hazard on and Vinicius makes way for the Belgian

The Croatian central player steps up and scores .... Goooooool

My word, what a big call from Martinez Munera ....Rakitic to take

Penalty for Sevilla !

The referee will take a closer look..... the outcome of this decision could have huge ramifacations on the title race!

High drama here at Valdebebas.....

Possible penalty for Sevilla too ahead of the Benzema incident.

Benzema upended ...penalty for Real Madrid

We've seen little or nothing from En Nesyri since his entrance some 15 minutes ago. Torres and Oscar set to come on for Sevilla.

A draw really suits neither side here. It pretty much kills off any slender title hopes for Sevilla and it would take the initiative away from Real Madrid in their battle to retain their league title.

Big test of character coming up for both teams with just over 20 minutes on the clock.

Fine play from Madrid with a great assist from Kroos to find the Mallorca born player. Jordan had his pocket picked in the centre of the park and this led to the Madrid goal.

Vinicius goes close and just fails to latch onto the ball. Great chance for the home side as Modric and Marcelo leave for Miguel and Asensio.

Miguel Gutierrez also poised to enter the fray for Real Madrid.

Changes imminent for Real Madrid stripped and ready to make an entrance.

Casemiro and Rakitic collide and the decision goes the way of the Brazilian.

Hazard and Asensio are two options for Zidane on the bench.... Mariano too could do a job. Marcelo feed Casemiro and the Brazilian blazes wide. Madrid shooting from range now with one sensing a tinge of desperation from the home side.

Shots: Real Madrid 9-4 Sevilla

It's Real Madrid enjoying all the possession now as Sevilla sit deep inside their own half and look to strike on the break.

Discreet 55 minutes from the Argentine who has yet really to catch fire in LaLiga. He's impressed on only flitting occasions. Sevilla now have a target man available with the Moroccan forward En Nesyri on the pitch.

En Nesyri on for 'El Papu'

Suso carded for a late tackle on Vinicius. First Sevilla man in the book tonight.

Possible penalty call for Madrid as the ball strikes Diego Carlos on the arm. A quick VAR check decides that there was no infringement and play continues. It's something of a coin toss these days with the old handball rule but in this case the decision seems to be the correct one.

A loss for Madrid tonight is by no means a curtain call on their title ambitions as there will still be 9 points in play as Marcelo drives the ball wide.

There is still obviously time for Zidane's side to turn things around tjis evening with more than 60' left to play here at Valdebebas.

Astute observation from Dermot Corrigan too about the impact of the pandemic on Madrid's squad this season. That's before we open the chapter entitled "injuries"....

Sevilla do look the 'fresher' side tonight and it's true that much of Madrid's play is predictable and laboured. A normal occurrence after the midweek exertions of the Champions League as Madrid crashed out at the hands of Chelsea in London.

Close from Acuña as the Argentine just zips the ball inches wide of Courtois' post in the opening minute of the half.

The teams are back on the pitch with the men in red set to get the action off and running.

A Sevilla win would both, propel the Andalusian side back into the title race and put Atleti back in pole position with just three games left to play in the 2020/21 season.

As things stand, this is the current 'live' LaLiga table

The whistle sounds for the end of the first half and the guests are ahead through Fernando. Well deserved lead it has to be said... Madrid have huffed and puffed and yet to really test Bono with Vinicius and Benzema looking lively for the home side.

Sublime play from the visitors as they move the ball from deep inside their own half with a perfect level of transition. The ball falls to Navas and the veteran is fouled by Marcelo. Kounde head and Courtois saves from the resulting free!

Sevilla are experts at working the ball out from the back with their traditional crisp passing and movement off the ball. The De Jong goal against Valencia in the Copa del Rey this season epitomised this to perfection after more than 30 touches before the Dutch striker fired home.

Lopetegui spotted barking instructions to his bench as Zidane cuts a less relaxing looking figure now on the Real Madrid bench. Heading towards the 40th minute mark and Madrid still looking for a way through the highly organised Sevilla rear-guard,

Madrid pressing now as Kroos fires over a dangerous corner, the ball eventually gathered by Bono but it's the men in white who dominate and Sevilla under pressure as the clock ticks down in the first half.

What a strike from Benzema, the French striker twists and unleashes a ferocious left footed shot which Bono has to turn over the bar. Madrid slowly but surely easing their way back into the contest.

We're past the 30 minute mark at Valdebebas and it remains 0-1 to the visitors with the game beautifully poised.

Vinicius skips into the box and drives high and wide.

Possession now at 40-60 (%) after 27 minutes.

Better now from the home side as Casemiro strikes from the edge of the area and forces Bono to stoop to save. Once again the Moroccan stopper is called upon, this time saving from Vinicius.

So, Madrid trail and will need to dig deep here. It's been a discreet opening from the current league champions with the disallowed Benzema effort the only glimmer of real danger from Real Madrid.

Gooooooool. Sevilla score. Fernando puts the visitors ahead. Suso free and a knock down from Rakitic to find the Brazilian who slots in the corner.

Casemiro carded for a foul on Jordan

Just a final observation on that disallowed Benzema goal.... Jules Kounde really should have done more as he let Benzema latch onto the ball undisputed and one would expect more from such a promising young talent.

Heading towards the 20th minute of the game. A bright open contest here at Valdebebas as Suso unleashes a shot from his trusty left foot but this time the ball drifts over the Real Madrid crossbar.

The disallowed goal seems to have spurred Madrid on with Zidane's side now playing with a higher tempo. Sevilla looking neat and composed in possession but as we've seen all too many times this season, the Andalusian side just lacking that final ball and added penetration.

So, as we were.... Looking at the replay, a correct decision from VAR. Marginal but correct!

Correction !!!! VAR has overruled the Benzema goal with Odriozola being in an offside position before providing the assist

Odriozola with a fine assist and the French striker tucks the ball inside the Sevilla goal

Sevilla with 76% possession in the opening ten minutes

Still the visitors enjoying all the early possession but the Andalusian side have yet to trouble Courtois in the Madrid goal despite their dominance on the ball.

Still Sevilla applying all the pressure. Lopetagui watching on from the stand with the Basque coach picking up his fifth card last Monday after the home defeat to Athletic.

Very patient build-up from Sevilla as Lopetegui's side move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other looking to move the Madrid defence out of position. Madrid now over a minute without touching the ball as Sevilla win a corner.

Papu Gomez almost latches onto a through ball but is bossed off the ball by Militao. What a night for the Argentine to stamp his mark in LaLiga.

Vinicius streaks into the Sevilla half and lacking support has to check and is hounded out by the men in red.

Zidane, as always looking dapper and cutting a relaxed figure on the Real Madrid bench tonight. Once again, the elimination midweek in the Champions League has raised questions about the French coach continuing with the Bernabeu side for the 2021/22 season.

Madrid start the game with Benzema knocking the ball into play.

Real Madrid in their classic all white, Sevilla in their away red kit.

We're all set, an overcast and muggy evening in Valdebebas in the Madrid suburbs.

AS English pre-game predictions:

Fidel: RMCF 2-1 SFC

Paul: RMCF 1-1 SFC

Andy: RMCF 1-1 SFC

Dylan: RMCF 3-1 SFC

For those wondering why a Real Madrid win would put Zidane's men top of the table despite having the same points tally as Atleti.... the Spanish system of deciding the final positions is based on head to head rather than goal difference and having beaten Atletico and drawn against Simeone's side already this season.... Real Madrid would top the table.

The sides are in the tunnel with kick-off just minutes away......

Sevilla will face Valencia, Villarreal and Alaves in their final three games of the season. A win tonight for the Andalusian outfit would really set the cat among the pigeons and open wide the race at the top of the table.

After tonight's game, Real Madrid will face: Granada (A), Athletic (A) and end their campaign at home to Europa League finalists Villarreal.

For those just joining us, here's a reminder of the teams for tonight's clash.

What Real Madrid will we see tonight?  A team licking its wounds after being outclassed and eliminated from the Champions League or a Madrid side who will be inspired by yesterday's stalemate at Camp Nou, with the result key in giving Zidane's men the initiative in the title race should they overcome Sevilla.

All eyes tonight on Madrid target Jules Kounde

The defender will visit the Di Stéfano tonight and Koundé has been impressive for the Andalusian outfit since joining from Ligue 1 side Bordeaux in 2019 and has had scouts from Madrid and other major European outfits monitoring him closely.

Full article here

Tonight's match official is Juan Martínez Munuera

Recent meetings in the Spanish capital between both sides make for poor reading for Sevilla fans with Madrid winning out last season 2-1. Previous games ended: 2-0, 5-0 and 4-1.

Julen Lopetegui's opting for a 4-3-3 formation and electing not to select obvious target men such as De Jong or Moroccan striker Youssef En-Nesyri.

Zidane opts to leave Eden Hazard on the bench after the Belgian player came under-fire from many Madrid media quarters after his laughing and joking with former Chelsea team-mates shortly after his Real Madrid side suffered Champions League elimination on Wednesday night at Stamford Bridge.

Zidane opts for the following XI:

Team news confirmed, first up the visitors: SFC XI

Lopetegui pre-game:

Sevilla head coach Julen Lopetegui said in the pre-match press conference that his team travel 'with the same desire and motivation that always moves us.' He pointed out 'we are where we are because we have been great this year; nobody has gifted us anything.'

The Basque will not be on the bench tonight after he picked up his fifth yellow of the season against Athletic Club on Monday night.

Zidane pre game:

"Let's just finish this season. What I will say is that I'll make things easy for the club, always, because they've always given me everything," Zidane told a news conference on Saturday.

"I'll make things very easy, but right now we are all focused on the four remaining games and ending the season well. That's what motivates me. All the rest is just talk."

Real Madrid are without captain Sergio Ramos who picked up a hamstring injury and the centre back has joined fellow defenders Rafael Varane, Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez on the sidelines.

Sevilla are still not mathematically out of the title race but their hopes were seriously dented last Monday at the Sanchez Pizjuan when they lost at home to Atlhetic Club with a late Iñaki Williams strike enough to secure maximum points for the Basque side.

With Saturday's crunch 3rd (Barcelona) vs 1st (At. Madrid) game ending in a 0-0 draw, the result has offered 'Los Blancos' a gilt edged opportunity to control their own destiny with a win over Sevilla integral in the race for the title with just four games outstanding for both of tonight's teams.

Kick-off at the Alfredo di Stefano stadium is at 21:00 CEST/ 15:00 ET

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage from Valdebebas as Real Madrid face Sevilla in a huge game for the title aspirations for Zidane's men.