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.

RAYO VALLECANO (Campo de Futbol de Vallecas)

LA LIGA, RAYO VALLECANO 2-2 SEVILLA, ATTENDANCE: 12,375

The final leg of my Spanish journey to me a short subway ride (about 12 minutes) from my hotel near Atocha. It was just as well I could afford myself a bit of lay in after discovering a fine craft beer bar in Madrid, which was open until 1am!

The Estadio de Vallecas is across the road from Portazgo subway entrance and the ground rises between the shops and tower blocks.

The ground feels part of the community and a story that perfectly illustrates that spirit can be found here. The stadium has been home to Rayo since 1976 and has a capacity of just under 15,000. 

The ground was renamed in 1994 when Teresa Rivero became President of the club, the first female President of a Primera División team. Rayo therefore decided to rename the stadium in her honour. When she left in 2011, the club's members voted to reinstate the original name.

This game was close to capacity which meant I had to pay €40 for a seat in the main stand. The plus side to this was it gave me a great pitch side view of the action and also the chance to watch the Rayo Ultra's do their stuff.

The Ultras locate themselves behind the goal (the ground is three-sided) and they kept their support for the team going throughout the game. The noise and atmosphere inside the ground was by far the best I had experienced on this trip.

The fans did have plenty to cheer as the home side came from two goals down to secure themselves a point.

Sevilla were quickest out of the blocks and after 10 minutes the Vallecano defence failed to deal with a corner and, after the ball had pinballed in the six yard box, ex Blackburn and Stoke player Steven N'Zonzi prodded the ball over the line.

After 20 minutes Sevilla counter attacked again and a shot by Vitolo was parried by Rayo 'keeper Juan Carlos into the path of  Iborra who toe poked the ball home.

Sevilla were carving Rayo open at will and should have extended their lead further, including another effort from Iborra which came back off the post

Manucho Gonçalves came on as a substitute after 35 minutes and his physical presence helped to bring Rayo back into the game. He produced a fine finish after 43 minutes, from an Adri Embarba cross, to halve the deficit.

Sevilla missed more chances in the opening period of the second half and their profligacy was to prove costly.  On the hour mark ex-Manchester United player Bebe crossed for Nicolas Fedor to equalise for Rayo.

Rayo had chances to snatch an unlikely victory but in the end were happy to settle for a point. The draw was a fair result, considering the way in which Rayo fought back from two goals down, but Sevilla will be wondering how on earth they let this game slip away.

A fine end to my long weekend of Spanish football. Now, if only I didn't have to have been at the airport for 8pm.....

"Love Rayo, hate racism"
A mural at the ground featuring former West Bromwich Albion legend Laurie Cunningham.
Cunningham played 19 games for Rayo in 1988/89, scoring the goal that clinched promotion to La Liga that season. He sadly died in a car crash in July 1989 aged just 33.

Click here for a video clip of the goals.

Click here for a video of the players and fans clebrating together.