SEVILLA (Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán)

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE, SEVILLA 4-0 DINAMO ZAGREB, ATTENDANCE: 35,215

From Madrid a RENFE train took me south to the capital of Andalusia, Seville.

My second Champions League game of the week involved Sevilla as they hosted Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb.

Sevilla are the regions most successful club with many domestic and European honours. The club have won the UEFA cup/Europa League five times in the last decade, including three on the bounce 2014-2016.

Their home ground, the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, was opened in 1958 and replaced the old Estadio de Nervión. The ground is about a 10 minute walk from the main (Santa Justa) train station, where I based myself in the nearby hotel, but a good 30 minute walk from the city centre attractions, including Seville Cathedral (below).

Cathedral of Saint Mary

The land for the new stadium was purchased by the then president of the club Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán but weeks before construction began he died suddenly died. His successor promised to name the new stadium in his honour.

Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán was officially opened in September 1958 with a 3-3 draw between Sevilla and Real Jaén.

During the World Cup of 1982 the stadium hosted two matches one of which was semi-final between West Germany and France, scene of the infamous Toni Schumacher challenge/assault on Patrick Battiston.

In 1986 the stadium also hosted the European Cup final between Steaua Bucharest and Barcelona, the less said about that particular European Cup season the better as far as I am concerned.

The ground was made all seater in the 1990's and now has a capacity of around 41,000. There were around 35,000 inside the ground tonight to witness a comfortable home win for Los Rojiblancos.

Goals from Luciano Vietto (31) Sergio Escudero (66) Steven N'Zonzi (80) and substitute Wissam Ben Yedder (87) ensured an emphatic victory. 

Zagreb's Petar Stojanovič received his marching orders in first half stoppage time which hardly helped their cause but, in truth, they offered very little even with a full complement of players.




The result puts Sevilla top of Group H, 2 points ahead of Juventus, with both teams going head to head on the next matchday.