Sevilla booked their spot in the 2018 Copa del Rey final courtesy of a 2-0 win over Leganes in the second leg of their semi-final at the Estadio Ramon on Wednesday night.
The tie was delicately poised entering the match following a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, but Sevilla recorded a two-goal success in front of their own supporters to triumph 3-1 on aggregate.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live Copa del Rey coverage continues from the Estadio Ramon as Sevilla welcome Leganes for the second leg of their semi-final. The tie is delicately poised following a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week. Which team will march into the final? Stay tuned!
Luis Muriel sent Sevilla into a first-half lead in the first leg last week, before Dimitrios Siovas netted for Leganes to leave the score level at 1-1. Sevilla did beat Leganes 2-1 at the Estadio Ramon when the pair met in the league earlier this season, however, and a repeat of that scoreline would see the hosts advance.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from the Estadio Ramon. Both teams were in league action at the weekend – Sevilla losing 5-1 at Eibar, and Leganes drawing 0-0 at Getafe. Any changes? Let's run through the two XIs that will start this match...
TEAMS!
SEVILLA: Rico; Navas, Mercado, Lenglet, Escudero; N'Zonzi, Banega; Sarabia, Vazquez, Correa; Muriel
LEGANES: Champagne; Tito, Bustinza, Siovas, Rico; Gabriel, Perez; Eraso, Amrabat, El Zhar; Beauvue
Sevilla boss Vincenzo Montella has made six changes to the team that started against Eibar in the league at the weekend. Jesus Navas and Gabriel Mercado come into the back four, while Ever Banega replaces Roque Mesa in midfield. There are also three changes in the final third as Franco Vazquez, Joaquin Correa and Luis Muriel all feature. Not a surprise that Montella has shuffled his pack.
As for Leganes, head coach Asier Garitano has made sweeping changes from the team that started against Getafe at the weekend. Only Diego Rico and Javier Eraso keep their spots from the goalless draw, with the likes of Nordin Amrabat, Nabil El Zhar and Claudio Beauvue all returning to the team. Siovas, who scored in the first leg, starts at centre-back alongside Unai Bustinza.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in Seville. I shall speak about the away side a little bit later, but let's start with Sevilla. As mentioned, Montella's side will enter this match off the back of a 5-1 thumping at Eibar in the league on Saturday afternoon. It was an extremely poor afternoon for the Seville club.
Sevilla have actually lost nine times in the league this season, but 10 wins and just three draws sees them occupy sixth position in the table. They are four points off fifth-placed Villarreal, and six off fourth-placed Real Madrid. The Seville club finished fourth in Spain's top flight last season, but it seems very unlikely that they will be able to repeat or indeed better that finish this term.
Inconsistent is the perfect word to describe Sevilla's 2017-18 La Liga campaign, but it could yet be a very successful season. Indeed, they are on the verge of reaching the final of the Copa del Rey, and are also still in the Champions League, with Manchester United travelling to Seville for the first leg of their last-16 tie on February 21. What an occasion that promises to be be!
In terms of this competition, Sevilla beat Cartagena 7-0 on aggregate in the round of 32 before overcoming Cadiz 4-1 on aggregate in the round of 16. The quarter-finals pitted Sevilla against Atletico Madrid, and many fancied Diego Simeone's side to prove too strong over the two legs. Sevilla, however, won 2-1 at Atletico in the first leg before recording a 3-1 victory on home soil.
Sevilla have won the Copa del Rey on five separate occasions, with their last success coming in 2010, when they beat Atletico in the final. They also reached the final of the 2015-16 competition before losing to Barcelona, and that might well be the final this time around. Indeed, the Catalan giants lead Valencia 1-0 after the first leg of their last-four clash. The second leg is tomorrow night.
As for Leganes, the Madrid club claimed a serious scalp in the quarter-finals of the competition when they dumped out neighbours Real Madrid. They lost 1-0 at home to Los Blancos in the first leg of the last-eight clash, but recorded a 2-1 victory in the second leg at the Bernabeu to turn the tie around. It was a historic night in the club's history, and they will now be eyeing a spot in the final.
This is the first time that Leganes have reached the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey in what is just their second season in La Liga. They only just survived being relegated back to the Segunda Division last term, but currently sit 12th in La Liga – 12 points clear of the relegation zone. There is no question that Asier Garitano's side are enjoying a very impressive campaign.
Their Copa del Rey journey started with a 3-1 success over Real Valladolid, before beating Villarreal and Real Madrid to reach this stage. They are actually unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, and will enter the match off the back of a goalless draw at Getafe in the league.
Here we go then! Both sets of players are in the tunnel ahead of kickoff at the Estadio Ramon. Can Sevilla get the job done on home soil, or will Leganes march into their first ever final? Stay tuned!
KICKOFF! Leganes will kick things off in Seville...
... it must be said that there is a wonderful atmosphere inside the stadium tonight. The Estadio Ramon is absolutely bouncing, and that will surely give Sevilla an edge over their opponents here.
Possession football from Sevilla in the early moments, with Banega seeing a lot of the ball in the middle of the park. Leganes have not really had the chance to threaten thus far, but the visitors will not need a second invitation, as they demonstrated in the last round away to Real Madrid.
Half-chance for Leganes as Amrabat delivers low towards Beauvue, but the number 12 turns wide of the post from a narrow angle. It was super work from Amrabat down the away side's right.
Good pressure from the home side in the last couple of minutes. Correa breaks down the left before delivering a low cross towards Sarabia, but Rico just manages to make the clearance.
This is a super game of football. There has hardly been time to take a breath in the opening eight minutes as both teams continue to commit players in the final third of the field. It is almost like a basketball match as play flows from end-to-end. Sevilla will fancy their chances punch for punch.
Amrabat continues to cause problems in a wide position as the number seven delivers into the Sevilla box, but Beauvue cannot make contact under pressure. Still all-action football here.
Sevilla are not allowing Leganes a moment on the ball as they continue to press high up the field. It is almost like watching Liverpool at Anfield in the big matches. Leganes might well be better served going long, although they have had plenty of joy in the wide positions early on here.
Sevilla have been putting pressure on Leganes for the last couple of minutes, but the away side are standing strong. Just a reminder that the tie is level at 1-1 following the first leg last week.
GOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Leganes (Correa)
Sevilla take the lead in the 15th minute of this match as Correa pokes home from inside the box after Muriel had scooped the ball into the path of the attacker. Big moment in this tie!
Leganes need to be careful that this match does not get away from them.
Sevilla are all over Leganes like a rash, and the atmosphere inside the stadium is just stunning. It has been a very impressive start from the home side - there is no question about that.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of Leganes pressure since the goal, with the away side just looking to survive during a difficult period of the match. Sevilla are absolutely flying here.
Perez is looking to settle Leganes down in the middle of the park, but the number 21 does not have too many options ahead of him at the moment. Sevilla are doing to Leganes what Leganes did to Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the competition. Sevilla lead 2-1 on aggregate as it stands.
Leganes have been unable to release Beauvue in this match, but there is still a lot of football to be played. El Zhar and Amrabat are also currently struggling to get into the game for the away side.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Sevilla have a 2-1 lead on aggregate courtesy of Correa's goal tonight. Leganes started pretty well, but the visitors have not really threatened since Beauvue turned wide in the early exchanges. Still all to play for here!
Tito breaks into a very dangerous position for the away side, but the defender cannot pick out a teammate as Navas comes across to make the clearance. Better from Leganes though.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances in the last few minutes, and to be honest, for all of the entertainment, there has not really been an opportunity since Sevilla took the lead tonight.
Leganes captain Gabriel strikes into the arms of Rico from distance.
Leganes have just started to put together some passes in the final third of the field, but they are struggling to create chances as Sevilla nick the ball before countering down the other end.
Half-chance for the visitors as Beauvue meets a cross from the left, but his header was always too high. Just a few signs that Leganes are warming to their task in this match.
Leganes are enjoying themselves at the moment as they win a number of 50/50s in a row, which riles the home supporters. Beauvue is starting to have some joy inside the Sevilla box, and it does appear that a shift is occurring. It is now Sevilla that are having to answer some questions here.
It is quite a scrappy game at the moment, but there is no question that Leganes have grown into the half. The away side have had more of the ball in the last five or so minutes in Seville.
CHANCE! Super chance for the home side as Muriel drives into the Leganes box before delivering a low cross into Banega, but the midfielders goal-bound strike is blocked!
Gabriel fires one wide of the Sevilla post from outside the penalty box.
HALF-TIME: Sevilla 1-0 Leganes (Sevilla lead 2-1 on aggregate)
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period in Seville to a close with Sevilla leading Leganes 1-0 on the night, and 2-1 on aggregate. Correa's 15th-minute effort is currently the difference, but I suspect that we have not seen the last of the goals in this Copa del Rey semi-final.
STATISTICS! Sevilla shaded the first-half possession with 56%, while they managed four attempts, but just one of those was on target. Leganes, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their six attempts. No yellow cards to report in the opening 45 minutes - it has not been that type of game.
BENCH WATCH! Guerrero, Brasnac and Munoz are among those on the Leganes bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see at least two of those in the second period. Sevilla, meanwhile, have the likes of Ben Yedder, Mesa, Pizarro and Sandro Ramirez on what is a very strong bench here.
RESTART! Sevilla resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period develops in Seville.
Leganes have a free kick in a very dangerous area as Vazquez brings Perez to the deck...
... Beauvue curls over the Sevilla crossbar. Decent effort, but too high.
BOOKING! Amrabat (Leganes) is booked for a late challenge on Navas.
Not an awful lot in terms of attacking intent from Sevilla since the interval. I would be very surprised if this finished 1-0, and the hosts would be in an uncomfortable position if Leganes scored.
Sevilla are just struggling to get going at the moment as Leganes continue to win free kicks in dangerous areas. That said, the visitors have not really made the most of a number of promising positions. The away side's latest set piece sees Gabriel jump into the body of Mercado.
Still more than 30 minutes of normal time remaining here, and a goal for Leganes would level it up at 2-2 on aggregate. The visitors are the team threatening in the second period, although Sevilla have had a couple of attacks in the last minute or two. It is so delicately poised in this tie.
CLOSE! Perez's effort from distance just misses the Sevilla goal!
LEGANES SUB! Brasanac replaces Eraso for the away side.
Still no movement on the Sevilla bench, but we are entering the stage of the match where Montella will be considering changes. At the moment, Leganes are the team on the front foot in this game.
Muriel breaks through into the Leganes box, but the striker cannot turn away from Siovas at the vital moment, and the defender just about does enough to make the clearance. Good from Siovas.
The Sevilla supporters are in fine voice as we head for the final 20 minutes of normal time. Sevilla lead 1-0 on the night, and 2-1 on aggregate. Leganes, however, need just one goal to level this up. You do get the feeling that there is at least one more goal in this match. Bring it on!
SAVE! Smart save from Leganes goalkeeper Champagne to keep out a strike from Sarabia, who had been found in a dangerous position. Good pressure from the home side.
Little over 20 minutes of normal time remaining, and Correa's goal is still the difference tonight, and indeed in the tie. Sevilla are heading for the Copa del Rey final if this match finishes as it is.
Sevilla counter once again as Leganes leave players up the field, but Correa makes a mess of it inside the away side's box. There was a lot of space for the home team to exploit there.
Leganes are preparing to make their second change of the match here.
LEGANES SUB! Garcia replaces Amrabat for the away side.
SEVILLA SUB! Layun replaces Sarabia for the home side.
You do get the feeling that something is going to happen in the final 15 minutes or so. Leganes are absolutely flooding players forward, and that is leaving a lot of space for Sevilla to exploit here.
Gabriel is the player forcing the issue for Leganes, but Rico remains untroubled between the sticks. Still more than 10 minutes of normal time to play though, which is plenty of time for a goal or two.
Muriel fires over the Leganes crossbar from outside the box.
Sevilla are preparing to make their second change as Sandro receives his instructions here.
SEVILLA SUB! Sandro replaces Muriel for the home side.
Stoppage in play as Banega receives some treatment, but the midfielder looks fine to continue.
Scrap that. Banega is not fine! The signal for the midfielder to be replaced has been made.
SEVILLA SUB! Pizarro is on for the injured Banega.
Little under five minutes of normal time remaining, and Leganes really, really need a goal.
You fancy that Leganes might have one more big chance in this match, but Sevilla are currently in possession of the ball, and N'Zonzi has just headed wide from a corner. We play on in Seville.
Leganes cannot get the ball at the moment as Sevilla continue to look for a second goal.
GOAL! Sevilla 2-0 Leganes (Vasquez)
Game, set and match! Sevilla book their spot in the final of the Copa del Rey as Vazquez finds the top corner from inside the Leganes box. Wonderful effort from the midfielder!
Leganes have just not had enough in their legs in the second period, and Sevilla will march on to the final of the Copa del Rey. What a night for the home supporters!
We are into the third and final minute of stoppage time in this match.
FULL-TIME: Sevilla 2-0 Leganes
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Sevilla booking their spot in the final of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate success over Leganes. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
