HUGE BLOCK FOR SEVILLA! M'Poku's free kick is fired into the centre and Teixeira meets it at the far post, sending a header towards goal. But Krychowiak produces a crucial block to deny the Portuguese defender.
90' +1
Vinícius Araújo enters the game and replaces I. de Camargo.
There will be a minimum of three minutes added on here.
89'
BACCA BLAZES OVER! Lovely footwork from Deulofeu as the winger slaloms between a couple of defenders and then gets into the right side of the area. He squares a pass to the Colombian, but his first-time effort goes just over. That was the chance.
87'
Time is almost up here as a draw appears to be on the cards. Perhaps these sides can muster a final chance between them in the latter stages, but time is running out.
85'
Careless play by Krychowiak! The Pole surrenders possession just inside his own half, allowing M'Poku to charge forward. However, Arribas bails his team-mate out with a last-ditch tackle.
83'
Sevilla almost create themselves a chance as they patiently knock the ball around in the final third. Eventually Banega tries to slip a defence-splitting pass into the danger zone, but Bacca couldn't anticipate the pass.
81'
G. Krychowiak gets yellow.
The pattern for the final stages appears set; Standard are sitting well back as Sevilla pile the pressure on, but the hosts are leaving at least two men forward at all times.
80'
Jonathan Viera enters the game and replaces G. Mujangi Bia.
79'
Deulofeu enters the game and replaces Aleix Vidal.
Deulofeu enters the pitch for Sevilla, replacing Vidal, while another Spaniard - Jonathan Viera - comes on for Standard, taking the place of Mujangi-Bia.
Minute
Description
77'
What a let-off that was for Standard. They are still level and in this contest, but they know Bacca should have scored that. Sevilla remain on the attack as changes are prepared.
76'
HUGE CHANCE FOR SEVILLA! Diogo's cross from the right is not dealt with by Standard and, after the ball evades three defenders, it lands for Bacca. The Colombian's first touch is heavy and he is forced to produce a scissor-kick, firing over from about eight yards.
74'
The match is becoming increasingly stretched, particularly in midfield as both sets of players start to find more space. Currently this appears to be playing into the hands of Sevilla, but this could go to the wire.
72'
M'POKU GOES CLOSE! Sevilla fail to deal with the corner and the Standard winger pounces on the loose ball, before firing through a crowd of players. His effort deflects off a team-mate and just wide.
70'
Nevertheless, Standard are on the attack and causing problems again. Mujangi-Bia waits for the overlap of Van Damme and he plays the experienced defender into the area. Diogo covers well, though, and deflects the cross behind.
68'
J. Louis enters the game and replaces E. Enoh.
We are approaching the final 20 minutes in Liege, with neither side to truly stampt their authority on this match. As it stands and considering the current pattern of play, you don't get the impression that either side would be too angered with a draw.
66'
Standard's attacking threat has seemingly waned a little in the last ten minutes, with Sevilla appearing to sit back a little more. Still, the introduction of Bacca and Suarez should provide them with a much needed change of dimension in attack.
64'
C. Bacca enters the game and replaces K. Gameiro.
Denis Suárez enters the game and replaces José Antonio Reyes.
Sevilla unsurprisingly make a couple of changes as Reyes and Gameiro leave the pitch, with Denis Suarez and Carlos Bacca entering the fray.
62'
THE POST SAVES STANDARD! Gameiro latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the area and swings a left-footed half-volley towards goal. His efforts takes a huge deflection off Diogo and deceives Thuram, only for the post to save the hosts.
60'
Sevilla must do better with their retention of the ball. Standard are finding it far too easy to end the visitors' moves and attain possession once again. Banega has been particularly disappointing thus far.
58'
Standard really have grown into this as a contest. They are creating more than Sevilla at the moment and look threatening every time they come forward.
57'
Mujangi-Bia is the latest to go close for Standard. The attackers drives in from the left, evading Diogo and shooting right-footed. His low effort is easily dealt with by Beto, however.
55'
SO CLOSE FOR STANDARD! M'Poku has been a constant threat and this time, cutting in from the right, he sends a good effort just wide of the bottom-left corner with a curling attempt.
53'
É. Banega gets yellow.
Banega now goes into the referee's book for a cheap foul, but this match is really starting to open up now. Krychowiak floats a fine delivery into the danger area for the looming Gameiro, but the Frenchman's header goes just wide.
52'
BETO SAVES! M'Poku fires a great delivery in from the free kick and Faty meets it with a powerful header, which is palmed away by the Portuguese goalkeeper. If that had been either side of him, then Standard would have the lead.
51'
Fernando Navarro gets yellow.
And now Navarro gets a booking as he brings M'Poku down on the left flank. This is becoming an increasingly scrappy game, but Standard now have a great chance with this free kick.
50'
A. Trébel gets yellow.
49'
That's a callous challenge from Trebel. Navarro clears his lines from the left-back area and he is caught very late by the Standard midfielder, who earns a yellow card.
48'
The visitors have seemingly quietened things down again after Standard's lively start to the second half. Changes are surely imminent for Sevilla, though, with Banega and Reyes not doing anywhere near enough.
47'
Encouraging start by the hosts as Van Damme gets down the left and sees his deep cross trouble Beto. The back-peddling goalkeeper is forced to tip the ball over for a corner.
From the resulting corner, De Camargo should do better as he meets M'Poku's cross with a wayward header. Sevilla eventually get some respite as Carrico is fouled by the Standard forward.
46'
We're back underway for the second half.
45' +1
HALF-TIME!
44'
This first half appears to be petering to a halt. Neither side can take control at the moment, with Sevilla's wastefulness in possession not helping their cause.
42'
Emery's side have become increasingly careless in possession as this first half has progressed, particularly inside their own half. They give Standard the ball back again and ultimately have to concede a corner as M'Poku threatens down the left.
40'
Sevilla's first yellow card of the day is awarded to the debutant Arribas. The centre-back tried to nip ahead of De Camargo as the forward looked to control a pass, but the former Osasuna favourite's lunge is late.
39'
Alejandro Arribas gets yellow.
38'
Lovely turn by Gameiro on the right flank as he completely takes M'Poku out of the equation. He then plays the ball inside for Vidal, but the winger did not appear to be concentrating and possession is stolen away.
36'
Sevilla are straight down the other end and they create a decent opening for themselves. Gameiro receives the ball in the left side of the area and cuts it back to Reyes on the edge of the area. He strikes first-time, sending an effort just over the bar.
35'
They don't test Beto, but at least Standard have finally registered a shot. Trebel charges into space in the midfield and, with neither Iborra nor Krychowiak present, the Frenchman goes for goal from 25 yards. It sails comfortably wide, though.
33'
The corner comes to nothing, but Standard remain in the ascendancy. After their extremely quiet start, they are starting to pose more of threat, even without testing Beto in the Sevilla goal.
32'
The hosts win themselves a free kick in a deep position in the Sevilla half, as their fans start to make a little more noise. Mujangi-Bia lofts the ball into the area and Van Damme heads it across the face of goal. Emery's men clear their lines for a corner, though.
30'
Sevilla look more than capable of taking the sting out of Standard's moves, though. Although, on this occasion Carrico belts the ball straight out of play as he searches for the run of Vidal down the right.
28'
Standard are starting to liven up a bit as they begin to see more of the ball, stroking it around well in midfield. They are yet to break through the Sevilla defence, though, with Iborra and Krychowiak proving an effective shield.
26'
Well, that certainly wasn't one of Vidal's better crosses. The former Almeria winger is under pressure and tries to squeeze a cross into the danger area, only to see the ball sail well over the crossbar.
24'
CHANCE FOR GAMEIRO! Vidal finds himself in lots of space out on the right flank and his teasing cross is not dealt with by the defence. The Frenchman rises and meets the delivery with a header, but it is aimed downwards and Thuram catches it with ease as it bounces up.
22'
The set-piece is somewhat wasted by Sevilla, though. Reyes chips the ball to the near post, where Arribas is waiting. His attempted header does not go across the goal face as intended and finds its way to Diogo, who is outmuscled.
21'
Sevilla win themselves a free kick about 35 yards from goal as Iborra shows good control to knock the ball around Van Damme and collect it on the other side. He is fouled in the process, though.
19'
Good move by the home side as Mujangi-Bia links up well with Milec down the left. The latter gets into position to cross and digs a delivery out, but the ball hits Gameiro and ricochets back on to the Standard man and Sevilla get a goal kick.
17'
G. Mujangi Bia gets yellow.
There is the match's first yellow card. Bia goes in late on Arribas and catches the centre-back well after the ball had been cleared. Arribas clutches his shin in pain and Bia gets a yellow card.
16'
This is all Sevilla at the moment. The hosts haven't got into the match at all yet, with the away side controlling possession and largely dominating. Surely the breakthrough is imminent?
14'
SEVILLA HIT THE POST! The visitors work a corner well as it is played in low and hard towards the edge. Diogo scuffs the ball into Carrico's path, who meets it with a tame header. Krychowiak then pounces with an improvised overhead-kick, but it hits the post.
13'
Excellent covering by Navarro. De Camargo appears to have found himself in behind the Sevilla defence with the goal at his mercy, but Navarro comes across, steals possession and then clears.
11'
REYES TESTS THURAM! The former Arsenal attacker is given a huge amount of space in the Standard half and, with no one willing to close him down, he tries his luck from 25 yards, forcing Thuram into a good save. Gameiro is then flagged offside at the rebound.
10'
Arribas proves effective again. Like before the Spaniard must deal with De Camargo, but on this occasion the forward runs as him with the ball at his feet. Nevertheless, the outcome is exactly the same as Arribas sticks a foot in and confidently comes away with possession.
9'
There is Arribas' first real involvement as a Sevilla player. Trebel tries to play a long ball forward to De Camargo, with the attacker looking to slip away from the last man, but Arribas makes an important interception with a header.
7'
Reyes' delivery from the free kick is a decent one and Carrico meets it with a header. The ball almost falls kindly for Navarro and then Vidal tries to hook it back into the danger area, only for the defence to clear their lines.
6'
The visitors now have a free kick in a deep position on the left as Daniel Carrico is knocked over by Trebel. Reyes strides over to take the kick as Sevilla crowd the penalty area.
5'
Not a great start to the match from the hosts. They are already finding themselves struggling in terms of Sevilla's fluidity on the ball and the La Liga side's pressing when not in possession.
3'
Sevilla are enjoying an encouraging start so far. This time they try to attack down the left and Gameiro is involved in the build-up. He tries to skip past his man and cross, but his delivery is blocked.
1'
And we're off in Belgium!
Almost the ideal start for Sevilla! Aleix Vidal raced in from the right to collect Iborra's pass and he managed to burst into the area. The winger's low ball into the area was inviting and Gameiro almost connects, but Standard are able to clear just in time.
Hello and welcome to this LIVE text commentary of the UEFA Europa League meeting between Standard Liege and Sevilla. Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liege plays host to this Group G clash, as reigning champions Sevilla look to continue their unbeaten start to their title defence. My name is Ryan Benson and I shall be describing the action for you today.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
Standard subs: Hubert, Arslangic, Viera, Andrade, Vinicius, De Sart, Louis.
This match could arguably not have come at a worse time for Standard. They are currently a club in turmoil, with their weekend game at home to Zulte Waregem marred by crowd trouble before, during and after the match. The club's own president was reportedly the target of some supporters and their coach -- now former coach -- Guy Luzon subsequently resigned as a result of the match in question being suspended. The Belgians also come into the match on the back of seven defeats in their last 12 outings (including the Zulte fixture).
Standard starting XI (4-4-2): Thuram-Ulien; Milec, Ciman, Teixeira, Van Damme; Faty, Enoh, Trebel, Mujangi Bia; Mpoku, De Camargo.
Europa League champions Sevilla, on the other hand, come into the match in fine form having lost just one of their first eight games in La Liga, seeing them sit in second behind only Barcelona. Despite losing the likes of Ivan Rakitic, Federico Fazio, Alberto Moreno and more over the close-season, Unai Emery's side have enjoyed an excellent start to the campaign and they will be looking to take charge of Group G with a win in Belgium today.
In the Sevilla team today, Emery has handed a club debut to centre-back Alejandro Arribas. The defender arrived on a free transfer from Osasuna in the transfer window, but his first appearance for the club had been postponed due to shin and calf injuries. There is also a first start of the season for Kevin Gameiro in attack, with the France international scoring as a substitute in the weekend victory over Elche. Gameiro had previously been out since May with a knee ligament injury.
The teams are now out on the pitch as kick-off approaches in Liege.
The referee blows his whistle to bring a rather tepid first half to an end. Things looked very encouraging from Sevilla's perspective during the early stages as they seemed set to take charge of proceedings. However, they let their hosts back into the contest and neither side has appeared particularly dangerous in the final third ever since. Everything is still to play for, but hopefully things will liven up a bit.
And that is that in Liege. The referee blows his whistle to end a fairly entertaining second half, with both sides wasting several chances. Ultimately a draw appears to be a fair result, but both sides will be left ruing several missed opportunities in the latter stages. But the result will likely prove a timely boost to Standard following a tumultuous weekend. Thank you for joining me today, I hope you enjoyed the action.
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