Hello and welcome to
Sports Mole's live text coverage of the
Copa Del Rey last-16 meeting between
Sevilla and
Granada at the Roman Sanchez Pijuan.
These two sides are separated by just the single goal coming into this second-leg tie with the Rojiblancos running out 2-1 winners last week. Their current form could not be more contrasting, though, as tonight's hosts look to make it nine games without defeat, while Granada need to half a slide of seven games without a win in all competitions.
Kickoff is just five minutes away, so let's take a quick look at how the teams line up...
TEAM NEWS!
SEVILLA STARTING XI: Rico; Figueiras, Kolo, Sedge, F. Navarro; Coke, Krychowiak; Deulofeu, Blades, Denis, Gameiro
GRANADA STARTING XI: Roberto, Nyom, Mainz, Marcelo, Carlos, Rico, Yuste, Iturra, Foulquier, Ortuno, Riki
So there we have the teams, then.
Iago Aspas is back in for the hosts for the first time since before Christmas when he bagged a hat-trick, while Granada are lacking in striking options with Ortuno and Riki leading the line for the this evening.
The two teams are now out onto the field, with kickoff just a minute of seconds away. Both sides will be well up for this one, with Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in the other half of the draw, leaving this side of things wide open.
KICKOFF! We are underway at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan. The Sevilla fans are certainly up for this one with a fine atmosphere inside the stadium, which has been helped by the fact that tickets were on sale for just €10 this evening.
A fine start for the Rojiblancos, who win themselves two corners inside the opening 90 seconds or so. They came to nothing in the end, but the tone has certainly been set.
It's clear from the off how this one is going to pan out; Sevilla to attack and Granada to soak up a whole load of pressure. Sevilla are in real form at the moment, while their opponents can't buy a win for love nor money at the moment. On paper, this one is only going to go one way.
CHANCE! First real opening of the game falls the way of Aspas, who has put his shot from around 10 yards out wide of the post. Gameiro did well to pick out his teammate with a ball from the edge of the box, and the former Liverpool man took it into his path but couldn't keep composed.
With just eight minutes played this contest is already fare livelier than the entire 90 minutes of this evening's contest between Almeria and Getafe. In many ways that highlights just why Sevilla want to win this one so much, with a nice draw on the cards in the quarter finals should they progress.
Deulofeu perhaps does a little too much on the ball before looking to swing in a cross, which comes back off an opponent and out for a corner. Sevilla are unable to capitalise on their set piece, although it remains very one-sided at the moment.
Incredibly, Joaquin Caparros looks as though he could make a substitution shortly. There doesn't seem to be any injury concerns, but he is not too happy with what he has seen from his side in the early stages. A third goal for the Rojiblancos on aggregate will make things very tough for Granada.
Sevilla are dominating possession at the moment, but that chance for Aspas aside they have not created a great deal. That won't bother Unai Emery too much, of course, but the longer Granada remain in this the more tense things will become.
GOAL! SEVILLA 1-0 GRANADA (GAMEIRO)
A fine finish from
Kevin Gameiro to put Sevilla in command of this tie. The ball came in from Navarro from the left, and the Frenchman just opened up his body and side-footed the ball home from close range, leaving Roberto wrong footed between the sticks.
That's the least Unai Emery's charges deserve following their strong start, and they are looking good value to stretch their unbeaten run to nine games this evening.
Figueiras has looked a real handful in the opening 20 minutes, causing a few problems down the right-hand side. On his foray forward he used his silky footwork to shimmy past his opposite number before winning his side yet another corner.
CHANCE! It should be game over with three quarters of this game still left to play. Deulofeu did brilliantly on the right, jinking his way to the byline before providing a fine back-post cross for Suarez, who somehow headed wide. He really should be scoring from there.
Granada just need to keep their shape - or attempt to find some sort of shape to begin with - or else the scoreline could be quite embarrassing. Sevilla have just one to their name so far, but they look as though they have at least a few more in their system.
GOAL! SEVILLA 2-0 GRANADA (ASPAS)
That is a fine individual second goal for Sevilla, who are punishing Granada with each passing minute. I mentioned just a couple of minutes ago how the visitors had to improve defensively, well their defending was non-existent on this occasion as Aspas flicked home Deulofeu's free kick into the far corner. That's not to take anything away from the Liverpool loanee, because that was a fantastic header which completely caught Roberto out.
Granada really are struggling. This one is going the way of the form book, as Deulofeu's deflected shot very nearly falls into the path of Suarez, before being cleared away.
The Sevilla bombardment continues as another cross comes in from the right, although this time Roberto was down low to cut it out. Granada simply need to get a hold of the ball and look to build some confidence, because at the moment this one is going to end five or six nil.
The Nazaries clearly listened to me, because the last few minutes has seen them enjoy far more of the ball, even pushing towards the opposition area. No chances created, but it helps relieve some of the pressure. The game is essentially all over at 4-1, yet pride will play a big part in the second 45 minutes.
Normal service resumes as Sevilla take the game by the scruff of the neck once more. It's far too easy in midfield at the moment, although in fairness to Granada they have reduced the amount of chances the Rojiblancos were creating in the opening quarter.
A reminder that Sevilla saw off Sabadell 11-1 over two legs to get to this stage. That scoreline will not be on the cards tonight, but things have been just as easy thus far. They were two up and strolling last week, however, before throwing away a needless late goal.
GRANADA SUB: I'm not sure if this is a forced change, but Darwin Machis has been introduced in place of Riki. The average age of the Anadlusian outfit just became even younger.
Judging by the fact that Riki has taken his place on the bench, I think it's fair to assume that Joaquin Caparros opted to change his personnel rather than having the substitution forced onto him. He's not happy with what he's seen, and 2-0 is the least it should be.
HALF TIME: SEVILLA 2-0 GRANADA
Referee Carlos Clos Gomez brings the opening 45 minutes to a close, and it has been a half dominated by Sevilla from the off. They started like a house on fire, squandering one decent opening before capitalising on their chances and racing into a two-goal lead.
Gameiro and Aspas were the men to find the net with two fine finishes, although the Rojiblancos took their foot off the gas slightly in the final 10 minutes or so of the half. That said, they have still been well in control, and 2-0 - or 4-1 on aggregate - is the least their dominance deserves at the break.
Deulofeu has been lively in the first half, also, putting a fine cross on a plate for Suarez to head home on the 24-minute mark, only for the forward to put the ball wide. It is very much a case of damage limitation for Granada now, you feel, having to try and soak up as much of the pressure as they can to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
BENCH WATCH!
SEVILLA SUBS: Barbosa, Bacca, Reyes, Iborra, Banega, Vidal, Arribas
GRANADA SUBS: Oier, Babin, Sissoko, Larsson, Success, Uche
Granada have already used one sub, of course, introducing Machis shortly before the interval, while Sevilla have a full bench to call upon should they wish. It's a really strong bench, too, with 10 changes made to the starting lineup this evening meaning that the likes of Carlos Bacca and Ever Banega are among the backups.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! We have resumed proceedings at the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan as Granada, in their red and white strip, kick things off.
Grameiro showing that he adds to this Sevilla side both offensively and defensively as he puts some pressure on the opposition high up the pitch to help win back possession.
Slow start to the second period with Sevilla in no particular hurry to add to their advantage. They could make life really difficult for their opponents, but they seem content with a three-goal advantage.
Half a chance for Mainz to pull one back for Granada, but he is unable to get his head on the end of a free kick which seemed to pass everyone by inside the area.
Mainz redeems himself by blocking Deulofeu's shot from close range, which looked likely to be heading into the bottom corner if not for the crucial intervention.
GOAL! SEVILLA 3-0 GRANADA (GAMEIRO)
This tie is now well and truly over, as Gameiro cuts in from the left and smashes the ball home. Roberto had an absolute howler, getting down to make the stop but seeing the ball dip in front of him and into the back of the net. Just moments before that Deulofeu produced a true moment of magic as he weaved past two opponents, but Roberto kept out the former Everton loanee's shot before the follow-up was blocked away.
Gameiro on a hat-trick, then, but one man who really deserves a goal is Deulofeu who has been fantastic this evening. That piece of skill to first skip past one player and then wrong foot another was simply sublime, but he couldn't quite find the net at the end of the move.
GRANADA SUB: The Nazaries make a second change, introducing Daniel Larsson in place of Yuste on the hour.
It will be interesting to see how many of these Sevilla players have worked their way into the reckoning for Sevilla's home meeting against Malaga on the weekend. Attention can very much turn to that big league clash now, with the Rojiblancos looking good on all three fronts when you add the Europa League into the mix.
GOAL! SEVILLA 4-0 GRANADA (SUAREZ)
Far, far too easy. Ironically, the fourth Sevilla goal came on the back of a rare Granada shot, which allowed the hosts to hit their opponents on the break. Graneiro picked up the ball inside the area, and despite having three men around him he managed to lay it off to Suarez alongside him who picked his spot in the corner. Another tidy finish from a Rojiblancos side who have looked fantastic tonight.
YELLOW CARD! Deulofeu's quick footwork proves too much for Foulqueir, who lunges in on the Barca academy product to enter the referee's book.
SEVILLA SUB: Gameiro receives a wonderful standing ovation as he leaves the field. Not quite a hat-trick but his all-round work ethic tonight has been spot on. It doesn't get any easier for Granada mind - Carlos Bacca is the man to enter the fray.
YELLOW CARD! Nyom is the latest player to earn himself a caution, this time for halting the run of Suarez. It looked a nasty one, but a yellow was just about right decision on this occasion.
Play has been a little disrupted since that fourth Sevilla goal with cynical challenges and substitutes breaking things up. It's been a case of job done since 30 minutes in for the hosts, yet they have produced some fine football throughout to remain in charge.
The Rojiblancos look unstoppable at the moment...
Roberto does well to read the danger and race out to collect Deulofeu's near perfect through-ball. You sense that there's a fifth goal to come this evening, as Unai Emery's charges continue to toy with their Andulusian opponents.
SEVILLA SUB: Former Arsenal man Jose Antonio Reyes enters the party, replacing Suarez with a little over 10 minutes still to go at the Roman Sanchez Pijuan.
SHOT! A rare attempt on goal from the visitors, with Artuno unleashing an effort from range which sailed just a few inches wide of Rico's goal.
It's certainly worth mentioning that in the last two meetings between these sides - both played at this ground - Sevilla have come out on top 5-1 and 4-0. Granada will be pleased that they don't have to play here for another season at least.
SAVE! Bacca comes close to adding a fifth on the night for Sevilla, latching onto a through-ball but failing to get the better of Roberto who was quick off the mark. Moments later Deulofeu, a strong contender for man of the match, produced eight or nine step-overs before getting a cross away which was well cut out.
GRANADA SUB: Ortuno's reward for coming within inches of pulling back a consolation goal for his side is to be replaced by Isaac Success. The irony of the replacement's surname isn't lost on me.
YELLOW CARD! Reyes brings down Machis and is therefore shown a yellow card. That seemed a very harsh booking, but it matters little in the grand scheme of things.
Sevilla are now going through the motions as we enter the final stages of the contest. They have certainly entertained tonight and will now surely go down as one of the favourites to lift the cup.
YELLOW CARD! Roberto manages to get down low to keep out Reyes's tight-angled drive, and out of nowhere the two players squared up. The Granada stopper was shown a yellow, but thankfully for Reyes, who has already been booked remember, the referee was a little more lenient when it came to him.
SAVE! Even in the dying seconds Sevilla turn it on; Deulofeu yet again the creator with Rico producing a fine save to keep out the subsequent header.
FULL TIME: SEVILLA 4-0 GRANADA
Referee Carlos Clos Gomez puts Granada out of their misery, because to be fair it could have been a lot more than 6-1 over the two legs. Sevilla certainly won't complain having given their supporters value for their money tonight in order to book their place in the last eight.
That's all in terms of Sports Mole's live text coverage for this evening, but be sure to stick around as we bring you a full match report and reaction from the Ramon Sanchez Pijuan. Thanks for joining!