Sevilla claimed a narrow victory over Deportivo La Coruña at the Riazor on Wednesday evening, winning 1-0 in the sixth round of La Liga. Miguel Sierra's second-half goal proved sufficient for the visitors, who moved into fourth place with 13 points. The hosts remain seventh on nine points after their first defeat of the campaign.
Sierra found the net in the 52nd minute, a moment that settled the game before things grew tense. To be fair, Deportivo had created plenty of possession but struggled to turn it into clear-cut opportunities. The visitors worked the channels more effectively, and their single big chance came from Sierra's finish.
And here's the thing about the red card — Angeliño was sent off in the 59th minute, just seven minutes after Sierra's goal. By then Sevilla had already established their advantage, but the dismissal tightened things up for the home side. They were forced to throw bodies in the way for the remainder of the match.
The statistics tell a story of dominance without reward for Deportivo. They held 53 per cent possession and attempted 499 passes compared to Sevilla's 443, yet registered only one shot off target and three on target. Sevilla, with less possession, produced six shots on target and one big chance created. Expected goals showed the same imbalance: 0.18 for Deportivo against 0.87 for the visitors.
The result leaves Sevilla four points clear of seventh-placed Deportivo, with both sides having played six matches. The visitors' away form continues to look solid, while the hosts will have to find a way to convert their possession into something more threatening. The red card, of course, meant Deportivo could not go after the game in the final third.
