Sevilla 2-3 Real Madrid: summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2021-22

Sevilla 2-3 Real Madrid

Cheers for joining us tonight as with just 6 games remaining in the 21-22 campaign, Real Madrid took a major step closer to the LaLiga title.

What a game, drama, goals, talking points and a major turnaround as Ancelotti's men brushed away the cobwebs and showed why they are 2021-22 league champions in the making. Rodrygo, Nacho and who else....Karim Benzema finding the net for Real Madrid after Rakitic and Lamela had put the home side 2-0 ahead. 

Madrid head to Pamplona midweek and the title is now just inches away .....

That's it, all over in Seville and Madrid record a famous win and more importantly secure maximum points as the title is now within touching distance as just 6 games remain in the 2021-22 season.

Time is up here and Madrid are poised to seal a famous win having been 2-0 down and out of contention in the first half.

Benzema now on 25 LaLiga goals for the season as Mariano almost lobs Bono.

Sevilla have been abysmal from the 35th minutes or so onwards.

What a dramatic turnaround that has been with Madrid set to secure three points that almost wraps up the 2021-22 LaLiga title.

Final minute of a game full of drama and plenty of talking points as 7 minutes will be added. Good news for Real Madrid, less so for Sevilla.

Sevilla have no-one but themselves to blame for their capitulation tonight. It all seemed to start when they felt that Camavinga should have seen a card for a foul on Martial. From that point on, the home side have lost their way and if anything at this stage it looks like a draw would be a decent result for the Andalusian side as Madrid press looking for a winner.

Torres at fault losing the ball and giving possession back to the men in green. Torres carded for protesting

Plenty of tension now with that decision really adding to the atmosphere as Madrid still feel aggrieved by the decision. Nacho on for Lucas Vazquez. 

Diego Carlos carded for a foul on Rodrygo, 

Handball is the verdict.... a really, really tough call from the ref. Nacho carded and the Real Madrid bench is incensed.....

It really is a tough call ....

The ref will consult the monitor and it looks like this goal will be given.

The Brazilian claiming it was his chest... watching on repeat it's very inconclusive .....

The ball is in the Sevilla net and Vini Jr is alleged to have handled prior to sending the ball into the net. VAR checking... 

Ludwig Augustinsson delivers a great ball but it's just inches too high for Rafa Mir who heads over. Better from the home side who seem to have ridden out the storm when they were second best to everything.

And it's Lamela who will make way for Lucas Ocampos. 

Lamela once again gives the ball away as Sevilla press and Vini Jr breaks. Kounde is on hand to save the day and despite his goal, Lamela is something of a liability for the home side. 

Sevilla fans still making high levels of noise and have never let up during the entire game. Certairtanly playing a 12th man role tonight.

Jesus Navas skips past his marker and hesitates on whether to pass or shoot, in the end he does neither and the ball fizzes well wide.

Madrid controlling the game now and bossing things in terms of possession too. Incredible the burst of energy that the visitors have unearthed after being outclassed for long spells of the first half.

Benzema shoots and his effort flashes just wide of Bono's goal. The move all starts with Lamela giving the ball away cheaply just as his side were starting to injury a spell of possession.

Ludwig Augustinsson and Gudelj come on for Acuña and Tecatito.

Sevilla set to make a series of changes. Ludwig Augustinsson and Gudelj set to enter the action.

It really is a question of when Madrid find the equaliser as Sevilla are pegged back deep inside their own half.

Sevilla simply unable to string more than three passes together as Madrid have discovered another gear and the home side seem overawed by the situation. 

Lopetegui still a live-wire on the Sevilla bench bellowing instructions to his side and far from happy with what he is watching.

The dynamic of the contest has changed dramatically and Sevilla seemed to really to crumble after the Camavinga decision. Madrid have bossed things and with time on their side. I wouldn't rule the three points heading back to the capital the way things are going.

Sevilla still stuttering as they were at the end of the half. Madrid now playing with more confidence .... 

Should things stay as they are, Madrid's lead at the top of the table would be cut to 9 points over Sevilla. 12 over Barça with the Catalan side set to face Cadiz on Monday. Xavi's men do have a game in hand, which is at home to struggling Rayo Vallecano.

Madrid opting for a three man forward line with Rodrygo joining Vini Jr and Benzema in attack.

Couple of changes at the break as Papu makes way for Torres and Rodrygo is on for Madrid. Camavinga makes way...

Sevilla 2-0 R.Madrid

Rakitic and Lamela goals the difference between the sides at the interval.

Sevilla good value for their lead as the bossed proceedings from the 10th minute through to minute 35. Madrid can claim tiredness after their midweek exertions....

Loud whistles greet the referee as he heads for the tunnel. 

Benzema finds himself one on one with Bono and the Moroccan stopper saves well. Flag was up however but Sevilla have been poor in the past ten minutes as the whistle sounds for the break.

Four minutes of time to be added. The Martial injury a contributing factor to this time frame. For the first time tonight, Sevilla mis-place a few passes as the home side seem to be rattled by the Camavinga decision.

Sevilla are looking so solid in defence that not even the maestro Modric can find a way through the wall of white shirts.

Benzema wriggles past Diego Carlos but shoots over. The French striker is the only source of danger from the visitors so far this evening.

Less than five left of the first half and Lopetegui will be happy with the first 45'. His side have been first to every 50-50 ball and Carlo Ancelotti has work ahead. The Italian coach can thank his lucky stars too that he can count on 11 players as Camavinga is lucky to still be on the pitch. 

And indeed, Sevilla make the change, Rafa Mir on for the injured Martial.

In the end, the ref issues a yellow for Martial for protesting. The French striker seems to be in trouble as Rafa Mir is warming up.

A clear pull from the former Rennes man but the referee declines to issue a card, which would have been a second yellow. Poor call from the match official there and not a decision that has been favourable met by the home fans.

Camavinga seems to wrestle Martial to the ground and bizarrely, the ref waves play on. 

Modric  delivers a lofted teasing ball and Bono only tips into the danger zone but once again the men in white are alert and avert the danger. That's the second time tonight the Moroccan stopper has looked vulnerable on a cross ball.

Despite being 2-0 up as we head towards the break , Julen Lopetegui is a live-wire on the Sevilla bench as he berates El Papu for a positional lapsus. 

Benzema volleys but the ball is straight at Bono.

A hint of fatigue palpable from Real Madrid with many of tonight's XI involved in the Champions League action last Tuesday against Chelsea.

Camavinga clips Tecatito and is the first name in the refs book tonight.

Edging past the half hour mark and Sevilla are very much in control here. Bono a virtual spectator in the opening 30 minutes or so.

The Mexican was upended in the move too and it would have been a penalty hadn't the Argentine fired into the net.

Goooooooooool ....Sevilla make it 2-0

Sevilla buzzing now following the opening goal as they press looking for more. Sevilla fans up the decibels level as they do their bit to rally their side. 

Jordan dummys and the Croatian clips the ball into the corner of the net with Courtois rooted to the spot. Poor from the wall as Militao moves to allow the ball through.

Sevilla win a dangerous free as Modric trips El Papu. Right on the edge of the box as Rakitic shapes to shoot.

Diego Carlos and Bono get their lines mixed up as Madrid players make a half-hearted appeal for a penalty kick. It appeared that Bono drops the ball onto the Sevilla defender's arm but would have been very, very harsh to have called a spot kick for the incident.

Little to do so far for either keeper with Martial's effort the closest we've come to a goal so far this evening. Courtois probably the busier of the stoppers but it is really an even contest after 15 plus minutes.

Vinicius looks to hit the turbo boost but once again Sevilla's defenders do their job stopping the Brazilian in his tracks

Martial goes inches wide with a great shot on the turn. Better now from the home side as they ease their way into the action.

Benzema shoots but Diego Carlos defends well and averts the danger. 

Plenty of noise being made by the Sevilla hardcore gathered in the goal behind Courtois.

Effort from Camavinga but the former Rennes man hits the ball high and over the Sevilla FC bar

Both sides feeling their way into the game with Madrid enjoying the bulk of the early action

It's a balmy evening in Seville with a current temperature of 27C/81F with the city just winding up the famous Easter Week (Semana Santa) which attracts visitors from across the world. 

Sevilla set to sport their classic all white kit with black socks, Madrid in their change kit of 'mint green' for Sunday's hige clash at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Madrid do have the positive 'distraction' of Champions League semi-final games against Manchester City on 26 April with the return leg the following week in the Spanish capital. The Champions League final is scheduled for 28 May in Paris with LaLiga concluding a week earlier.

Tonight's trip to Seville, coupled with the Madrid derby at the Wanda Metropolitano are arguably Real Madrid's trickiest fixtures in what remains of their LaLiga schedule. Next week, Madrid travel to Pamplona to face Osasuna, then face Espanyol at home, Atleti away and finish off with games against Levante (h), Cadiz (a) and Betis at home.  

A reminder of the team news should you just be joining us. A rare start for Camavinga for Madrid with Lopetegui opting for French striker Martial as the man to cause headaches for the Real Madrid rear-guard with the French striker still adapting to life in LaLiga.

Need to watch their step...

Both Luka Modric and Militao are one card away from accruing an automatic suspension with both players needing to watch their step in Seville tonight. 

Both Rafa Mir and Lamela for Sevilla FC are in a similar position and both players will want to be available for selection as the Andalusian side are set to face Levante UD Thursday next.

Lineker in Seville tonight

BBC/BT Sport and LaLiga TV presenter Gary Lineker will be at the Sanchez Pizjuan tonight for the pick of the matchday 32 league games as Sevilla host Real Madrid. 

The former England international is no stranger to Spain having played at FC Barcelona for three years back in the 1980s. 

Sevilla FC have to win tonight if Lopetegui's men want to cling to any remote hope of winning LaLiga.

Real Madrid sit aloft the LaLiga table on 72 points, 12 more than FC Barcelona and Sevilla.

In the event of victory, Carlo Ancelotti's team would take a 15-point lead over Sevilla with six games to go and would practically clinch the title.

Barça, with a game in hand on the 'Merengues', will host Cadiz on Monday at Camp Nou.

Sevilla-Madrid (referee)

Guillermo Cuadra Fernández is tonight's match official with the Madrid born a FIFA referee since 2020, and he is also ranked as a UEFA second category referee.

Sevilla XI

Julen Lopetegui names his side for the home clash against Real Madrid with Martial set to head up the forward line against 'Los Merengues'. Papu Gomez, recently recovered from injury is back in the side and will look to supply the creativity outside the box for the Andalusian side.

Despite a home defeat to Chelsea midweek, a 1-3 win in London was enough for Madrid to advance to the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League where Ancelotti's men will face Manchester City. 

In LaLiga, Madrid remain rampant with their recent 'El Clasico' loss at home to Barça, the only blot on their copybook.

Lopetegui's men bounced back from recent disappointments after Europa League elimination at the hands of West Ham with the 2021-22 final st to be held at their Estadio Ramon Sanchez de Pizjuan ground next month with a solid win over Granada with late goals sealing maximum points for the side from the Catalan capital.

Madrid ahead in past 5 meetings

Real Madrid have won four of the past five league meetings between both sides with Sevilla's 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu last May, a bright note for the Andalusian side.

Even a defeat in the Andalusian capital will unlikely derail Madrid’s title tilt with just six games (18 available points) available after Sunday’s game but Julen Lopetegui’s men will be incentivised in their bid to secure a second place finish in LaLiga with club president Pepe Castro recently admitting that a top four was the club’s objective.

Real Madrid XI

Carlo Ancelotti names his Real Madrid side to face Seville at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan tonight with Camavinga enjoying a rare start as Karim Benzema will look to add to his 24 goal LaLiga tally this season.

Gareth Bale is included on the bench and will look to secure playing time after a brief run-out at Stamford Bridge recently when Madrid faced Chelsea in the Champions League.

Here's how the top of the table looks ahead of tonight's game. A win for Madrid would really be a decisive blow for any glimmer of hope that both Barcelona and Sevilla may have of catching Carlo Ancelotti's side.

After tonight's game, 6 games remain in the campaign (18 points) and a win would Madrid stretch their lead to 15 points.

FC Barcelona are in action tomorrow night and face Cadiz CF at Camp Nou.

Sevilla too have their injury issues with Fernando ruled out with and ankle problem. A hamstring problem has Rekik sidelined too joining long term absentee Suso. 

Carlo Ancelotti does have a series of injury concerns going into the game with Dani Ceballos and Vallejo both ruled out with Covid-19. Casemiro is suspended and the pair are joined by the injured Marcelo, Hazard and Mendy.

The last time both sides met in Seville in the league, 'Los Blancos' ran out 0-1 winners with an own-goal from Sevilla stopper Bono handing the side from the capital the win back in December 2020.

The action gets underway at 2100 CEST (local time) or 3pm ET.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live LaLiga coverage from Seville as league leaders Real Madrid face a tricky test at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan against third placed side Sevilla FC.