Sevilla

March 13 (Reuters) - Sevilla's LaLiga title ambitions suffered another blow after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, a sixth draw in the last eight league matches for the second-placed team. Julen Lopetegui's side have 56 points ...

Rayo went ahead early the second half when Bebe netted a perfect strike from the edge of the box but Sevilla equalised through Thomas Delaney who found space inside the box to score with a perfect strike into the bottom corner. "We go out with a very negative sensation after a tough game that was even tougher due to the field of play that was in very poor conditions," Lopetegui told reporters referring to large worn patches on the pitch. Third-placed Atletico Madrid have 51 points, five behind Sevilla and three ahead of Barcelona who have two games in hand.

But it didn't end there. Instead, he turned to VAR, after a Rafa Mir goal was ruled out for handball and a penalty was later overturned. “VAR, ...

But that composure, that elegance, that proven winners like Ancelotti or Simeone have, is part of what is separating Sevilla from a real shot at the top of La Liga. Against Rayo, as the going got tough, they resorted to long balls and directness with no end result. And that starts with Julen Lopetegui in the press room. This was a team that ended the game at Vallecas with Youssuf En-Nesyri, Anthony Martial and Rafa Mir in a front three. He knows no other way than to hop along the touchline like a lost Easter Bunny hitchhiking for a ride home. That shows a mentality problem and an inability to see teams off. And he’s almost certain to be far more self-critical behind closed doors than he is in public.

Sevilla can keep up the heat on the summit of La Liga when they make the trip to face a relegation-wary Rayo Vallecano at Campo de Futbol de Vallecas this ...

Vallecano 1-4 Sevilla Sevilla 5-0 Vallecano Sevilla 3-0 Vallecano