Two minutes of added time at Santiago Bernabeu. Sevilla need one final chance if they are going get a draw here!
88'
Dear, oh dear. Sevilla aim to keep Madrid camped in their own half but their attack breaks down as the referee gets in the way of a Vitolo pass to Navarro down the left wing. The official makes things worse moments later by awarding a free kick to the hosts. Emery won't be happy...
86'
Isco gets yellow.
Aleix Vidal looks to pile on the pressure with two consecutive corner kicks. The first is blocked by Marcelo and the second is commandingly cleared at the front post by Khedira. Every man back defending for Los Blancos at the moment!
84'
Jese receives a neat pass down the left from Marcelo but instead of taking the ball for a walk near the touchline, opts for an ambitious cross into the box for Benzema. Perhaps a lack of experience from the Spaniard there, and Ancelotti will probably let him know of it!
82'
Real Madrid just look a bit shaken after conceding that Aspas goal! Sevilla, meanwhile, have been given confidence from their strike back and and getting forwards in hordes as they search for their equaliser. Just under 10 minutes remaining of normal time!
80'
Iago Aspas has scored a goal for Sevilla! Assist by Vitolo.
GOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLL FOR SEVILLA! THE VISITORS STRIKE BACK! Vitolo makes up for his yellow card for diving by powerfully running into the box before hitting the byline and reversing a pass inside for Iago Aspas, who cleverly adjusts his body to scramble a strike over the line! Two-one! GAME ON!
78'
The game is getting a bit stretched now and Sevilla should fancy themselves to get at least one big chance to claw a goal back before the latter stages. Krychowiak and Mbia have been battling hard in midfield, but do they have someone capable of unlocking the Madrid defence?
76'
Aleix Vidal gets yellow.
No goal yet for Sevilla, but another booking of course! Substitute, Aleix Vidal is the latest player to receive a yellow card and it is for a horribly late challenge on Marcelo near the corner flag. A needless tackle, really. Frustration once again boiling up in the ranks of the visitors.
74'
Time is running out for Sevilla to get something, anything out of this game here. Barring a couple of mini-scares, Real Madrid have largely been comfortable at the back in this second half, but all of that could change if the Rojiblancos can get a goal soon.
72'
Really good defensive work from Varane as the Frenchman finds himself one-on-one up against Vitolo near the touchline but flexes his muscles to shove the winger off the ball to return with possession. He receives a warm round of applause from the home crowd for that piece of work.
Minute
Description
71'
Vitolo gets yellow.
70'
A rather embarrassing moment for Vitolo now as he drives into the box and looks to take on Arbeloa, before taking a tumble despite there being no contact from the former Liverpool man. The referee promptly issues the yellow card for diving to the Sevilla man, who looks rather red in the face at his actions.
68'
Third and final change for Sevilla now and it sees Bacca, who has been rather disappointing as the central striker, replaced by Iago Aspas, who netted the winner over Espanyol at the weekend.
67'
Iago Aspas enters the game and replaces C. Bacca.
Isco twists and turns on the edge of the box and typically threads a pass into the channel. Marcelo latches on to the ball and fires a wicked cross along the goal but neither Benzema nor Bale can rise high enough to get a header on it!
66'
Daniel Carriço gets yellow.
65'
Almost a sensational Real Madrid goal! The ball gets fired into the feet of Jese who delightfully tees up Marcelo with a back heel. The Brazilian then teases a cross into the box, but it is just behind Benzema who can't sort his feet out in time to get the shot away! Scintillating move that deserved a finish!
63'
How on Earth has Fernando Navarro not seen red in this match? The Sevilla left-back is left for dead initially by the skill of Bale but gets his own back with a nasty challenge on the Welshman. He was booked in the first half, so he should definitely be off for that challenge if not the few previously!
61'
Vitolo makes a powerful run down the right-hand side and attempts to skip inside before going down under the challenge of Marcelo. The referee deems this worthy of a yellow card which means the Madrid left-back will now miss the derby against Atletico this weekend. Looked very harsh, and it is no wonder the Brazilian is seething at the official.
60'
Marcelo gets yellow.
59'
They SHOULD claw a goal back! Iborra makes a late run into the box and gets on the end of a perfect cross along the six-yard box, but somehow cannot manage to sort his feet out and ends up deflecting the ball AWAY from goal! An absolute sitter!
57'
We are just approaching the hour mark of this La Liga fixture and Sevilla and by no means out of this clash. The visitors just need to channel some of the creativity they showed in the first half in order to claw a goal back!
55'
Brilliant save by Rico! Isco pops up in his favourite position on the edge of the box and instead of a signature incisive pass, opts to dance his way through the Sevilla defence. The eventual strike on goal is solidly beat away by the substitute keeper, though! That should give him some confidence!
54'
Aleix Vidal enters the game and replaces Deulofeu.
53'
We do indeed have our first change of this second half, but it looks like a tactical change from Sevilla rather than an enforced one. Deulofeu, who has not been at his best down that right-hand side, is coming off and he'll be replaced by Aleix Vidal.
51'
Those various injuries in the first half, in particular the awful incident with Beto, didn't do much to establish much of a tempo for either side. Hopefully there are no more casualties and we can get on with the football!
49'
JESE HITS THE POST! The Madrid substitute, who has been very bright since coming on, bursts into the Sevilla box and somehow manages to get a strike away near the touchline, but the attempt rattles off the outside of the woodwork!
47'
Stephane Mbia will have to be careful in the second period as he was actually booked just on the stroke of half time for a late challenge on Khedira. Plenty of Sevilla players walking on egg shells now!
46'
We are back under way in this Spanish Primera Division clash!
45' +5
S. M'Bia gets yellow.
45' +1
Four minutes of added time here due to the array of injuries which have occurred in this first period. Both sides will probably welcome the break as they need to recover from their changes to personnel and tactics.
45'
R. Varane gets yellow.
44'
Varane is a lucky man! The Frenchman gets in on the yellow card act for what appeared to be a deliberate hand ball. However, the hand ball in question actually stopped a through pass that would have seen Vitolo through on goal! Denying a goalscoring opportunity perhaps? Just a booking, and not a red, in the end!
42'
Fernando Navarro gets yellow.
The bookings are coming thick and fast as we approach the break! Navarro is the latest player to receive a yellow card as he stamps straight down on the foot of Bale, who was looking to instigate a Madrid counterattack. Sevilla need to keep their heads and composure or this match is going to drift away from them!
41'
Diogo Figueiras gets yellow.
40'
We have our first booking of the match now as Jese robs Diogo of possession in an altercation which appeared to rile the Sevilla defender, who proceeds to get up and scythe down the Madrid substitute. Just about the most deserved yellow card you'll see.
38'
It should be three-nil! Bale cuts in from the right wing and then reverses an incisive pass behind the defence for Arbeloa. Benzema receives the cut back from the right-back but just drags a right-footed strike wide of the post! That looked a certain goal!
36'
Jesé has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Isco.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLL FOR REAL MADRID! Not the best introduction for Sergio Rico as he collects the ball out his net moments after coming on! Benzema drifts away to the right channel inside the box and picks out Jese at the back post, who makes no mistake in smashing a strike home into the bottom corner! Two-nil!
35'
Sergio Rico enters the game and replaces Beto.
34'
Unai Emery makes the change due to the injury to Beto and coming on is substitute goalkeeper, Sergio Rico. Rather unbelievably, three players have gone off injured in the opening 30 minutes or so of this match.
32'
This doesn't look too good at all for Beto as the goalkeeper is still down receiving treatment from an array of physios. It looked like he was caught right on the forehead by the knee of Benzema, so even as a precaution the Sevilla man should be withdrawn. We all hope he is okay.
30'
That is a hell of a collision between Beto and Benzema! The Frenchman was just looking to get on the end of a teasing cross into the penalty area, but ended up smashing right into the Sevilla keeper, who had previously very bravely cleared out of the box.
28'
Navarro picks out Vitolo with a lovely pass down the left channel and the latter collects before taking on the Madrid defence. Navarro follows the play up the flank and looks to smash a cross along the six-yard box, but the ball goes out for a Sevilla corner.
27'
Jesé enters the game and replaces J. Rodríguez.
James does indeed leave the play due to injury and it is Jese who comes on.
26'
Real Madrid have Atletico Madrid in the derby this weekend so all of these injuries will certainly be weighing on the mind of Carlo Ancelotti. They do, of course, have Cristiano Ronaldo to come back from suspension for that clash though.
24'
James Rodriguez has a problem here as he goes over to receive attention from the physio. Actually, it doesn't look like the Colombian will be able to continue and Jese is warming up as his replacement. Real Madrid are the walking wounded tonight!
22'
Vitolo is having no luck in front of goal at the moment! The Sevilla winger pops up at the back post to pick up a long cross and then shifts his body to get a lovely half volley away, but Casillas matches him again with a great save! Bacca attempts to follow up but is offside.
20'
KHEDIRA! How close was that?! The German latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and fires a wicked strike towards the bottom corner, but the attempt flies by the post by no more than a yard! Beto would have had no chance if that was on target!
18'
Unai Emery's can definitely take heart from this opening portion of the match despite being a goal down. They are continually finding openings in the final third but they just appear to be finding the wrong man! Sooner or later Bacca is bound to get a sight of goal...
16'
SEVILLA HIT THE POST! Iborra, who has been superb so far, pops up just outside the edge of the box and threads a lovely pass in behind the defence for Vitolo, who rounds the keeper but then sends his subsequent strike off the woodwork! How are the visitors not at least drawing here?!
14'
Marcelo receives the ball to feet at the left-back position and just takes a dodgy touch inside which allows Deulofeu to pounce on possession, but the Madrid man gets let off the hook as the referee blows for a foul. Didn't look too much in that...
12'
J. Rodríguez has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by Marcelo.
GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL FOR REAL MADRID! Sevilla's good early work undone! Marcelo collects the ball in an advanced position and whips a lovely cross to the back post, where the unmarked James sends a brilliant diving header into the corner! One-nil against the run of play!
11'
It has been an excellent start to this match from Unai Emery's men. They are certainly being hard and solid in the tackle, but it is a requirement at Santiago Bernabeu if you are going to get anything out of the game. They should be a goal up, too, but Vitolo squandered that early chance.
9'
Nacho enters the game and replaces Sergio Ramos.
It is an early blow for Real Madrid here as it looks like Sergio Ramos won't be able to continue as he struggles with a hamstring problem. The centre-back is coming off and will be replaced like-for-like by Nacho, who has played in that position before.
7'
Krychowiak continues the early fouling trend with a very, very late challenge on Khedira near the Real Madrid bench. The referee gets over quickly and orders the Poland international to cut it out, or the yellow cards are going to start flowing. Let's see if the hosts take heed of the advice from the official.
5'
Perhaps a sign of things to come in the match as Isco collects the ball with a neat touch near the touchline, before being completely taken out by a late challenge from Mbia. It is a very combative central midfield for Sevilla tonight, so expect a flurry of fouls throughout the match from both sides.
3'
SAVE FROM CASILLAS! A miscommunication at the back from the hosts allows Vitolo to burst through on goal, but the winger's attempt is hastily blocked by the Madrid keeper who makes a vital early stop! Los Blancos once again starting a match shakily in La Liga!
1'
We are under way in the Spanish capital!
Good evening football fans! Welcome to LIVE coverage of the Spanish Primera Division clash between Real Madrid and Sevilla from Santiago Bernabeu!
I'm Martin Macdonald, and it is my pleasure to take you through the action!
This fixture has been in the making for a while now after being previously postponed due to Los Blancos' World Club Cup triumph in December. Since then, Carlo Ancelotti's men have been fending off the league pursuit of both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, but tonight gives them the opportunity to extend their one-point advantage at the summit of La Liga.
Sevilla, meanwhile, have also prospered in the Spanish Primera Division this season. Los Rojiblancos currently find themselves 4th in the last Champions League place with 42 points taken from 20 matches, and have lost just one out of their last eight league fixtures. However, this defeat did come at the hands of European qualification rivals, Valencia, who ran out 3-1 winners at the Mestalla at the end of January.
Real Madrid and Sevilla have already faced each other this season, and the clash actually came in European action. A double from Cristiano Ronaldo saw Ancelotti's outfit defeat Unai Emery's men to claim the UEFA European Super Cup in Cardiff in August. The Portuguese misses the match tonight though as he continues to serve a suspension.
Sevilla didn't enjoy the best of times in their last league trip to Santiago Bernabeu. On that occasion last campaign, the European Champions ran out comprehensive 7-3 winners, with Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema all getting among the goals.
TEAM NEWS...
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Casillas; Arbeloa, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Khedira, Kroos, Isco; James, Bale, Benzema.
The players have made their way to the pitch at Santiago Bernabeu and we are almost ready for kick-off!
Half time at Santiago Bernabeu. It has been an opening 45 minutes littered with incident here as Real Madrid lead Sevilla 2-0 as we head into the break. Vitolo has been through on goal twice for the visitors, but couldn't dispatch either chance, which allowed Ancelotti's men to go on and score two through James Rodriguez and Jese. Strangely, three players went off due to injury as Sergio Ramos, James, and Beto had to be replaced. Interesting second period in store!
Full time in the Spanish capital. Real Madrid withstand a late onslaught from Sevilla to run out 2-1 winners in this Spanish Primera Division clash. Los Blancos went ahead through James Rodriguez and Jese Rodriguez in a first half which saw the Colombian, Sergio Ramos, and Beto taken off due to injury, with the Sevilla keeper leaving on a stretcher. Los Blancos went through the motions in the second period and were given a late scare when Iago Aspas netted to make it 2-1, but held on in the end for all three points. I'm Martin Macdonald, thanks for joining us, see you next time!
Commentary
More…