Sevilla have taken a big step towards the Copa del Rey final courtesy of a 4-0 victory over Celta Vigo in the first leg of their semi-final this evening.
Unai Emery's side broke the deadlock right on the stroke of half time before a second-half Kevin Gameiro brace put the hosts well on course for their first appearance in the final since 2010.
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Sevilla were on top from the get-go at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, and almost took the lead inside just two minutes when Michael Krohn-Dehli's cross into the middle was headed narrowly wide by Benoit Tremoulinas.
It was the aerial route that seemed to be causing Celta most problems in the first half, and they twice survived threats from successive corners in the 25th minute when first Timothee Kolodziejczak's effort was turned over before Steven N'Zonzi nodded narrowly wide.
The best chance of the opening 45 minutes arrived just before the half-hour mark, however, when Sergio Gomez hauled his man to the ground inside the area to gift the hosts a penalty.
Gameiro stepped up to the spot kick and didn't do much wrong with his effort, but Ruben Blanco produced a full-stretch save to his left to deny the striker.
That let-off appeared to give Celta the impetus to finally get into the match themselves, and Gomez came within inches of atoning for giving away the penalty moments later when he nodded an effort against the crossbar.
Fabian Orellana then fired narrowly wide of the target having been picked out inside the box, but Celta's newfound momentum was soon halted and it was Sevilla who broke the deadlock in the final minute of the first half.
Again it came via a corner, with Adil Rami this time rising highest to nod Ever Banega's delivery down into the bottom corner.
The visitors looked for a response in the early stages of the second half, but Gustavo Cabral's low strike lacked the power needed to truly trouble Sergio Rico in the Sevilla goal.
Banega almost added a goal to his assist when he drew a diving stop from Blanco with a free kick, but it wouldn't take too much longer for Sevilla's second goal to come as Gameiro latched on to a pass over the top before shrugging off the last defender and confidently clipping his finish past the keeper.
If that goal went some way to making up for his missed penalty, he was fully redeemed three minutes later when he doubled his personal tally to put the game - and perhaps the tie - to bed.
Again it was a simple ball forward that split the defence wide open, and finding himself clean through on goal for the second time in quick succession, Gameiro this time slid his finish between the legs of the keeper.
There was still time for Sevilla to add another to their lead through Krohn-Dehli three minutes from time, putting them in complete control of the tie heading into next week's second leg at the Estadio de Balaidos.
Barney Corkhill
