20 November 2006, by Sean Gillen

Impressive Sevilla warm up for Braga with resounding win

Sevilla 3-0 Valencia

Sevilla kept up the pressure on league leaders Barcelona by outclassing 10-man Valencia at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. Goals from Julien Escude, Luis Fabiano and Freddie Kanoute gave the Andalucians the points, in what was a convincing performance from the home side.

Valencia arrived in Seville with a long injury list, and as a result Portuguese Hugo Viana started in central midfield, while Miguel continued at right-back. However, it was a night to forget for both, as Viana made little impact on the game and Miguel struggled to prevent Sevilla winger Antonio Puerta’s influence on the game.

The game got off to an intense start, with several strong challenges in the opening stages, and one incident between Sevilla right-back Daniel Alves and Valencia’s David Silva would lead to the latter being dismissed early.

Alves clattered into the young winger with just two minutes on the clock, and Silva returned the favour shortly afterwards, incurring a yellow card for crudely taking down the Brazilian. However, the Valencia man continued to seek retribution, and was issued a straight red card after 18 minutes for an intentional elbow on his rival.

The significance of Silva’s departure was obvious in several ways throughout the match, starting with Sevilla taking the lead from the resulting free-kick. Luis Fabiano touched the ball to Julien Escude, and the Frenchman smashed a low shot at goal, which Santiago Canizares failed to stop.

Silva’s absence was strongly felt by Valencia, as Sevilla enjoyed huge success in attacking down the right flank deserted by the 20-year-old. Alves, who had an outstanding game from right-back, put in countless pinpoint crosses for top goalscorer Freddie Kanoute, but the Malian forward made poor use of the superb service.

Miguel struggles

Although most of Sevilla’s threat came from the right, their left-sided winger Puerta was causing problems for Portuguese international Miguel on the opposite flank. The former Benfica man was beaten with ease as Puerta sprung into full pace from a standing position, and his cross found Adriano, but the Brazilian was off target despite having time and space in the box.

Miguel was restricted from making his traditional rampaging runs down the wing, as Valencia struggled to put the Sevilla defence under any kind of pressure. Star striker David Villa got his first sniff of goal at the end of the first period, forcing Palop into a comfortable save, before Miguel showed his frustration by smashing a long range shot well off target in first-half injury time.

Into the second half, and again Villa was the sole genuine threat to the Sevilla goal. The former Zaragoza striker almost caught Palop off his line with a clever lob from outside the box, but the veteran keeper managed to stop the ball drifting in.

Kanoute continued to miss chances for Sevilla, before the magnificent Alves created the second for former Porto striker Luis Fabiano. Alves dribbled infield and feinted to shoot, before playing a perfectly weighted disguised ball through for his Brazilian colleague, who stabbed the ball past the onrushing Canizares.

After seeing another headed effort saved by the Valencia keeper, Kanoute finally got his goal on 71 minutes. Miguel failed to prevent David from crossing from the left, and Kanoute scored from close range for his ninth La Liga goal of the season.

Portuguese Duda replaced Puerta on the left before Alves almost created another for his side with a dangerous cross, and Morientes missed a good chance with his head to register a consolation for Valencia in the dying minutes.

The result sees Valencia slip down to a disappointing eighth place in La Liga, while Sevilla remain one-point behind leaders Barcelona.

Sevilla:
Palop, Alves, David, Escude, Ocio, Poulsen (Marti, 57), Renato, Adriano (Alfaro, 64), Puerta (Duda, 75), Fabiano, Kanoute
Yellow Cards: Poulsen (27), Puerta (46)

Valencia:
Canizares, Miguel, Cerra, Albiola, Ayala, Pallardo (Edu, 56), Viana, Silva, Joaquin (Vicente, 64), Villa (Angulo, 73), Morientes
Yellow Cards: Silva (5), Cerra (14)
Red Cards: Silva (18)

Goals:
[1-0] Escude, 19
[2-0] Fabiano, 55
[3-0] Kanoute, 71