Sevilla suffered to save a 1-1 draw against Salzburg on the first day of the Champions League in an open game marked by penalties at Sánchez Pizjuán.
A penalty transformed by the Croatian Luka Sucic put Salzburg ahead (21), but Iván Rakitic tied with another maximum penalty (42) saving a point in a game, which Sevilla finished with ten for the expulsion of Youssef En-Nesyri (50 ).
The two contenders take the lead in Group G awaiting what Lille and Wolfsburg do in the other key match on Tuesday.
«It was a very strange game. When you have three penalties against, one sent off, I think you have to be happy with the draw, “Rakitic commented at the foot of the field, to the Movistar + platform at the end of the match.
Sevilla jumped onto the lawn of Sánchez Pizjuán as a favorite theoretician, but he found a rival who dealt with him from you to you, pressing up the exit of the Andalusian team.
The scares began early for Sevilla when at a quarter of an hour the young German striker Karim Adeyemi caused a penalty, which he sent out (13).
The Andalusian team tried to take advantage of the high game of its rival to go deep down the sides and center the area where Youssef En-Nesyri appeared.
Sevilla had just finished trying their luck with a too high balloon from Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gómez (16), when Jesús Navas knocked down Adeyemi in the area causing a new penalty.
This time, Sucic did not miss (21), although later he would send a third penalty (37), provoked again by Adeyemi.
The 19-year-old young German forward from Salzburg was a real nightmare for the home defense, unable to stop his internships.
Despite being ahead on the scoreboard, Salzburg continued to attack without closing in behind, while Sevilla also arrived but without aim.
At the edge of the break, a penalty on En-Nesyri was transformed by Rakitic (42) to balance the game and give air to a Sevilla that saw the game slip away.
– More problems for Sevilla –
Things got complicated again after the break when Sevilla were left with ten for the expulsion of En-Nesyri for a double warning (50).
Just three minutes earlier, Sevilla goalkeeper Bono had offered a providential hand to a point-blank shot from Edin Dzeko (47).
The expulsion of En-Nesyri completely changed the tactics of Sevilla, which went from seeking to dominate the ball to closing in behind and looking for their opportunities on the counterattack and with long balls.
In the last 20 minutes, Salzburg began to show the physical effort deployed throughout the match, giving some air to Sevilla, who came out more easily.
In the 74th minute, Rafa Mir headed into the hands of the rival goalkeeper to kick off a free kick and Erik Lamela narrowly headed off another cross into the box (78).
Sevilla ended up pulling pride in trying to turn the game around, but the scoreboard would no longer move. AFP (HN)