First Division - Day 1

Sevilla 6 – Espanyol 4

Sevilla: Sergio Rico; Mariano, Nico Pareja (Diego González 82’), Mercado; Kiyotake, Franco Vázquez, N'Zonzi, Sarabia, Vitolo; Vietto (Joaquín Correa 79’), Ben Yedder (Iborra 75’). 3-5-2.
Espanyol: Roberto; Javi López, Álvaro, Oscar Duarte (Ciani 37‘), Rubén Duarte (Javi Fuego 68’); Hernán Pérez (Reyes 68’), Víctor Sánchez, Diop, Piatti; Gerard Moreno, Leo Baptistao. 3-5-2.

Goals:
0-1. 08. Piatti. Got on the end of Leo Baptistao centre to slide shot past Rico.
1-1. 15. Sarabia. Looped header back over Roberto from Mariano cross.
2-1. 22. Vietto. Steered header through hands of keeper from Kiyotake corner.
2-2. 26. Hernán Pérez. Controlled cross from left and turned shot under Rico.
2-3. 44. Víctor Sánchez. Struck shot inside far post after Piatti laid ball back.
3-3. 45. Vietto. Drilled shot back in to net Diop headed out Vázquez corner.
4-3. 54. Vázquez. Curled shot inside post after Kiyotake touched on Sarabia cross.
5-3. 65. Ben Yedder. Picked up Sarabia pass and fired shot past Roberto.
6-3. 74. Kiyotake. Ran on to Vázquez pass and steered shot wide of keeper.
6-4. 79. Gerard Moreno. Intercepted Kiyotake pass and ran on to score.

Yellow cards: Hernán Pérez 37’, Mercado 40’, Alvaro 46’, Vietto 64’, Diop 85’.

A high scoring match between Sevilla and Espanyol on Saturday evening to start off the new season, the Andalusians running out 6-4 winners in the end. The lead changed hands three times in the first half, Piatti putting the visitors ahead from Leo Baptistao’s cross in only the eighth minute. Roberto had had to make saves though from Vietto and Franco Vázquez, and headers from Sarabia and Vietto turned the scoreline in favour of the hosts. Hernán Pérez levelled it again however, and with a couple of minutes to go to half time Víctor Sánchez put the Catalans back in front with a low shot in to the bottom corner of the net. A minute or so later Vietto made it all square again following a corner, and after the restart Sevilla raced clear with strikes from new signings Vázquez, Ben Yedder and Kiyotake. Sergio Rico did well to keep out Baptistao soon afterwards, and Gerard Moreno completed the scoring, intercepting a poor pass from Kiyotake and turning Mercado inside out before shooting past the keeper, but that came too late to change the result.