Ramos aids Sevilla end Madrid’s 40 match unbeaten run

By Daily Sports on January 16, 2017

Real Madrid were looking comfortable. Zinedine Zidane's side had the better off the first half at Sevilla and took the lead through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty. There appeared little danger, but one moment changed everything.

Sergio Ramos had been in the headlines after the sides' Copa del Rey clash on Thursday night, when he had been the subject of abuse from fans of his former club and caused controversy first with a Panenka penalty and also afterwards as he gestured to the supporters that had been baiting him.

The Madrid captain, who started his career at Sevilla, claimed he was entitled to defend himself after the supporters had been "remembering my mother since the first minute" and Real also backed their skipper.

But obviously there was more abuse aimed at the 30-year-old in this match, even though some Sevilla supporters were uncomfortable with that treatment to one of their former players.

Ramos started in the middle of a three-man back line, with Raphael Varane on the right and Nacho on the left. It was a surprising tactical tweak by Zidane, but it worked well for much of the evening.

This match was much less intense than Thursday's Copa clash. Sevilla were taking fewer risks, while there was more at stake for Real. Three at the back meant Madrid often had a spare man further forward as well and Los Blancos more than held their own.

In the second half, they started strongest and were pushing for the opening goal when Sergio Rico clattered into Dani Carvajal in the area and Cristiano Ronaldo (who had looked short of match fitness after his recent rest and gave the ball away a number of times) fired them in front from the spot.

On the sidelines, Sampaoli held his head in frustration. Once again it looked like Madrid would win an important away fixture. But just like on Thursday, when Real came back from 3-1 down to claim a 3-3 draw, two late goals altered the perspective and also the outcome of this match.

First Ramos headed into his own net. So often the man for the big occasion, a player who is renowned for providing late levellers and heroic goals for Madrid, he had done it at the wrong end this time and could barely believe it.

Suddenly, from their position of power, Madrid were on the rack as the Sanchez Pizjuan urged Sevilla to find a winner. Real instantly lost their calm, their dominance in midfield and now they looked vulnerable - with even the immense Casemiro now making mistakes.

Karim Benzema lost the ball in added time and January signing Stevan Jovetic (who scored within nine minutes after making his debut on Thursday) took advantage to beat a poorly positioned Keylor Navas in a frenetic finale as the Sanchez Pizjuan erupted.

Madrid will wonder how they lost it, but their 40-match unbeaten run is now gone and La Liga is wide open again (with Sevilla a point behind and Barca one further back - albeit both having played one more game than Real). And unfortunate as it may have been, it all started with Sergio Ramos. (goal.com)

•Photo shows Sergio Ramos

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 16, 2017


 

You may also like...
German strugglers Darmstadt invite ‘fan’ Obama to a...

That Rohr’s, Amaju’s Super Eagles Sef

Badu insists Bursaspor move wasn’t about money

Ronaldo On Target Again As Juventus Move Four...

Arsenal in contract talks with Iwobi

FG Inaugurates Committees for 2020 National Sports Festival...

 

Latest News JOF Kids Cup: Teams Battle For Semi-Finals Tickets This Weekend Adebayo battles Tanzanian for WBO title Gospel singer, Bassey, others knock poor Eagles display Awka City Stadium Hosts Rangers Against Heartland Federation Cup Clash 2025 Beach Soccer League: Anambra Warriors In Killer Mode To Secure First Round Qualifier Rivers lucky against Ikorodu City – Finidi We are not in Nigeria for holidays – Zimbabwe captain Don’t dash Nigerians’ hopes, Emenike tells Eagles Ikpeba backs Osimhen to break Yekini’s record Nwokolo to defend WBA NABA title April 26 Chelle chases second win against Warriors in Uyo Akwa Ibom offers free tickets for Super Eagles vs Zimbabwe match

 

Most Read Rangers International going, going . . . (55,372 views) Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (46,517 views) Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (44,534 views) Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (44,178 views) Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (44,141 views) Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (44,133 views) Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (43,945 views) NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (43,489 views) Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (42,578 views) Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (41,234 views) Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (39,672 views) John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (39,095 views)

 

Phone numbers

Tel: +234(0)8066020976
+234(0)8055068145
+234(0)7013416146
+234(0)8094272884

Email addresses

info@dailysportsng.com
support@dailysportsng.com
publisher@dailysportsng.com

Office address

No 3, Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja Lagos.
Website: www.dailysportsng.com

Social Media