Sevilla endured what would have been a frustrating night for the holders in Belgium as the played out a stalemate with well spirited Standard Liege, the point keeping them top of Group G in the UEFA Europa League.
It was Standard’s first game under caretaker manager Ivan Vukomanovic since the departure of Guy Luzon, and the former would be very encouraged by the characteristics of his side’s performance last night. The hosts were strong in the tackle and combat, and remained persistent in keeping Sevilla at bay.
La Liga BBVA highflyers Sevilla came into the game in much better form, and not surprisingly had the first array of chances in the game, Reyes drawing Thuram-Ulien into an awkward save. Marshalled by Laurent Ciman, Standard continue to resist the pressure that the holders through at them, and began to keep the ball more once they had won it.
Aleix Vidal split the defence in half and found Kevin Gameiro, and the Frenchman should have done better after his header was easily gobbled up by Thuram-Ulien once again. Standard finally began to ask Sevilla’s defence a few questions in the second half as Ricardo Faty’s powerful header forced Beto into a notable save.
M'Poku curled a right-footed effort just wide before former Watford man Geoffrey Mujangi Bia further tested Beto down low to his right before Gameiro headed wide at the other end, hitting the post five minutes later before making way for Colombian hitman Carlos Bacca.
He knows all about Belgium having signed for his club from Club Brugge last year. Bacca nearly stole the points in the dying embers as he went close with an acrobatic effort but the teams shared the spoils at the Maurice Dufrasne Stadium.