Sevilla make 13 shots count in 1-0 win over Valencia

Sevilla defeated Valencia 1-0 in La Liga’s fifth regular-season round on Friday, September 11. Juan Antonio Iglesias Sánchez scored the only goal in the 81st minute, giving Luis García’s side a second consecutive league victory and leaving Valencia still without a win after five games.

Sevilla create the clearer chances

The statistics suggest Valencia had more of the ball but less threat in the final third. Valencia recorded 54% possession and completed 350 accurate passes compared with Sevilla’s 277. However, Sevilla produced 13 total shots to Valencia’s three, including eight from inside the box. Valencia managed only one inside-the-box attempt.

Sevilla also led 4-0 in shots on goal, while Valencia finished without a shot on target. Valencia goalkeeper saves numbered three, compared with none for Sevilla, reinforcing the view that the home side created the more dangerous opportunities despite having less possession. Sevilla’s six corners to Valencia’s four provided another indication of their greater attacking pressure.

Iglesias decides the contest late

The match remained goalless until the 81st minute, when Juan Antonio Iglesias Sánchez found the breakthrough for Sevilla. Giorgi Kochorashvili supplied the assist. Kochorashvili had entered nine minutes earlier for Youssouf Fofana, while Sevilla had also brought on Robbie Ure and Chidera Ejuke in the second half.

Valencia made three notable changes as they sought to alter the game. Iker Córdoba replaced César Tárrega Requeni in the 24th minute, and Pablo Maffeo and Harvey Elliott came on for Arnau Martínez López and Ryunosuke Sato in the 62nd minute. The changes did not produce an equaliser, and Sevilla protected the narrow lead through the final stages.

Discipline and defensive contribution

Ryunosuke Sato received Valencia’s first yellow card in the 27th minute. Chidera Ejuke was booked for Sevilla in the 67th minute, and Pablo Maffeo was shown a card in the 88th. There were no red cards. Valencia committed 12 fouls to Sevilla’s eight, while the teams were awarded eight and 11 free kicks respectively.

Kike Salas was the highest-rated player, earning 7.4 after completing 90 minutes. He recorded one shot on target and three tackles. G. Suazo also completed the full match, adding two key passes and four tackles, while Iglesias finished with the winning goal and two tackles.

Table positions change in opposite directions

The victory moves Sevilla to sixth place with 10 points from five matches. Their record is now three wins, one draw and one loss, with a goal difference of two. Valencia remain 20th on one point, with one draw and four defeats and a goal difference of minus nine. The result extends contrasting form lines: Sevilla’s sequence becomes win, win, win, loss, draw in reverse chronological order, while Valencia’s recent run now contains four losses and one draw.