Sevilla 6 - 4 Espanyol: Jorge Sampaoli claims first LaLiga victory after Sevilla win nine-goal thriller

Posted Sunday, August 21, 2016 by PA

Sevilla secured victory in their opening fixture of LaLiga season with an entertaining 6-3 defeat of Espanyol.

They twice recovered from falling a goal behind to secure victory in Jorge Sampaoli's first league match in charge.

The highly rated Argentinian coach has experienced a challenging start to his role as Unai Emery's successor.

He had overseen three successive defeats, via a 3-2 scoreline against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup and 5-0 on aggregate over two legs against Barcelona in the Spanish Supercopa.

It appeared he was at risk of further disappointment in only the eighth minute, when his compatriot Pablo Piatti's close-range shot gave visitors Espanyol the lead after he received possession from Leo Baptistao.

Pablo Sarabia brought Sevilla level only seven minutes later, however, when he headed into the top right corner from Mariano's cross.

Another header, by Luciano Vietto in the 22nd minute from Hiroshi Kiyotake's cross, then gave them the lead, four minutes before Hernan Perez's right-footed finish made the score 2-2.

Espanyol's Piatti followed his assist for Perez by setting up Victor Sanchez to shoot into the bottom right on the stroke of half-time. But they did not lead at the interval, after Vietto's second goal - a finish into the bottom left - again brought Sevilla level.

Franco Vazquez, Wissam Ben Yedder and Hiroshi Kiyotake then each scored in 20 second-half minutes to give Sevilla what was finally a comfortable lead.

Gerard Moreno scored Espanyol's fourth, and the game's 10th, goal in the 79th minute, but Sevilla retained their lead to secure victory.