Negredo brace downs Zaragoza

Alvaro Negredo scored a brace as Sevilla returned to winning ways in la Liga with a 3-0 win over Real Zaragoza at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on Thursday night.

Federico Fazio opened the scoring inside the opening 15 minutes before Negredo killed off the game with two first half goals.

Real Zaragoza threatened early on in the match from long range freekicks which were delivered into the box, but Sevilla goalkeeper managed to clear other pressure.

The hosts had more touches on the ball but they opened the scoring from a dead ball situation in the 11th minute when Fazio rose between defenders to head home from a corner.

Sevilla continued to be the better side and they eventually doubled their lead in the 29th minute after the visitors gave away position in their own half.

Manu del Moral played a well-timed through-pass to release Negredo, and the Spanish international did well to tuck the ball in at the far post.

Apono should’ve pulled one goal back for Manolo Jimenez’ men two minutes later when he was put through by a poor back-pass from Manu, but somehow he sent his shot wide of the post.

Negredo came closing to grabbing his brace in the 41st minute when he connected with a brilliant cross from Jesus Navas, but he was unable to get his header on target.

Then two minutes later Manu did well to dispossess Mauricio Lanzaro on the right before finding Negredo on the edge of the box, but his volleyed strike was blocked by Zaragoza goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez.

David Mateos tries to clear from the rebound but the ball fell for Navas on the round whose cross was nodded home by Negredo, although Roberto should’ve stopped the ball.

Sevilla sat back in the second half and allowed Zaragoza to see more possession while they looked to catch the visitors on the break.

In the 61st minute, substitute Franco Zuculini dribbled past his marker before finding Helder Postiga on the right, but his shot was blocked at the near post by Palop.

Seven minutes later Postiga had another chance to pull one goal back when he connected with a low cross from Luis Garcia, only to see his effort coming off the outside of the post.

Navas then continued to trouble the Zaragoza defence down the right flank but forwards Negredo, Manu and substitute Baba Diawara were unable to make good use of his crosses in the second half.

The result sees the Sevillistas moving one place up to 7th with 45 points, one point behind Osasuna and five points away from the top four.