French forward Wissam Ben Yedder hit a hat-trick as Sevilla soared to the top of Champions League Group E by cruising to a 3-0 win over Slovenian champions Maribor on Tuesday.
Ben Yedder produced clinical finishes from close range twice in 11 first-half minutes to put the hosts well on course for victory before completing his hat-trick with a penalty seven minutes from time.
Liverpool's 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow sees the Spaniards lead the group with four points to Liverpool and Spartak's two.
"It was a convincing win," Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo told BeIN Sports Spain.
"We used the ball well and accelerated at the right time.
"In the second-half we had even more penetration and won the game with a lot of authority."
Ben Yedder's inclusion was one of eight changes made by Berizzo from Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid.
And Sevilla carried much more of a potent threat in the final third with he and Joaquin Correa recalled up front.
The two combined for the opening goal when Correa wonderful solo run and cut-back was slotted home at the near post by Ben Yedder.
A flowing team move saw Sevilla double their advantage seven minutes before the break as Ben Yedder latched onto Franco Vazquez's through ball inside the area before firing with unerring accuracy in off the far post.
Sevilla were happy to take the sting out of the game after the break with an important three points assured.
However, Ben Yedder got the chance to take his Champions League tally to six in four games this season when Sebastien Corchia was felled inside the area.
And the striker didn't disappoint by slotting low into Jasmin Handanovic's bottom left-hand corner.
Source: AFP
GMT 12:30 2018 Friday ,14 December
Noriaki Kasai: 30 years of World Cup ski-jumpingGMT 09:57 2018 Monday ,03 December
Robben confirms this season is his last at BayernGMT 10:04 2018 Thursday ,22 November
Ivory Coast football legend Didier Drogba announces retirementGMT 16:03 2018 Tuesday ,02 October
Suspension will give Ronaldo time to rest: Massimiliano AllegriGMT 19:26 2018 Wednesday ,19 September
Lionel Messi eases the pressure with a treble against PSVGMT 15:44 2018 Wednesday ,05 September
Six-time Olympic Champ Viktor Ahn wraps up sports careerGMT 09:13 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Rockets' juggernaut continuesGMT 09:11 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Beijing Guoan plead ignoranceMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor