Sevilla drops out of top three after stalemate
Print Edition
SEVILLA dropped out of the top three in La Liga for the first time since November after being held to a goalless draw at home yesterday by relegation-fighting Sporting Gijon, dropping points for the fourth consecutive league game.
Jorge Sampaoli’s side dominated possession and had 17 attempts on goal but lacked a cutting edge, particularly in the second half when it launched repeated assaults on the visiting area but could not get past the impressive Ivan Cuellar in the goal. The Sporting goalkeeper anticipated every moment of danger brilliantly, frequently scooping up through balls in his area, and made a stunning save by leaping low to the right bottom corner to tip away a shot from Vitolo in a sweeping breakaway.
Sevilla was not helped by its wayward shooting. Vitolo, Vicente Iborra, Steven Nzonzi and Steven Jovetic all missed the target with efforts in the closing stages. For the second home game running the fans inside the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium greeted the final whistle with loud boos.
Sevilla slips down to fourth spot on 58 points, level with Atletico Madrid, which leapfrogged it on goal difference after beating Malaga 2-0 on Saturday. Sevilla has surrendered a nine-point lead over Atletico in the space of four games.
In Paris, Edinson Cavani was back in the scoresheet to help PSG win the League Cup final 4-1 against Monaco on Saturday, taking his season’s tally to a career best 40. His previous high was 38, set four years ago in his final season with Italian club Napoli before he joined PSG for a French record 64 million euros (US$68 million).
With eight league games and potentially three French Cup matches left — should PSG reach the final — Cavani has a maximum of 11 matches left to score 10 times. It is within his reach considering he has averaged almost a goal a game this season — netting a league-leading 27 in 28 games. His previous best league tally was 29, also during his final season in Italy.
“Cavani scores in nearly every game,” PSG midfielder Javier Pastore said. “The team also plays for him, but he’s got a great presence.”
PSG, which trails Monaco by three points in Ligue 1 with eight games left in the season, is now unbeaten in the French League Cup since a quarterfinal defeat in November 2012.
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