Sevilla staged a dramatic second-half comeback to stun Villarreal 3-2 at Estadio de la Ceramica, with Akor Adams' 72nd-minute winner securing a vital victory for the visitors.
Villarreal entered the match as heavy favorites. The hosts occupied third place with 69 points from 35 games, while Sevilla sat 13th with just 40 points. Yet the away side's recent form offered hope, arriving with two consecutive wins.
The home team exploded out of the blocks. Gerard Moreno fired Villarreal ahead in the 13th minute with a clinical finish. Seven minutes later, Georges Mikautadze doubled the lead, and the Yellow Submarine looked set for a comfortable afternoon.
Sevilla refused to crumble. Oso pulled one back in the 36th minute to give the visitors hope. Then, just before halftime, Kike Salas equalized in the 45th minute. The pendulum had swung dramatically.
The second half belonged to Sevilla. Adams struck the decisive blow in the 72nd minute, firing past the Villarreal goalkeeper to put the visitors ahead. The hosts pressed for an equalizer but could not find a way through.
Villarreal dominated possession with 63 percent of the ball. They completed 554 passes with 90 percent accuracy. However, their expected goals total of just 0.81 revealed their lack of cutting edge.
Sevilla created fewer chances but made them count. The away side managed 13 total shots compared to Villarreal's six. Adams' goal capped an impressive display from the visitors, who generated an xG of 0.88.
Moreno led Villarreal's efforts with a rating of 7.9. Mikautadze added a goal and an assist in 70 minutes. Dani Parejo controlled the midfield with three tackles despite playing just 70 minutes.
Oso and Adams both impressed for Sevilla. Oso registered two shots on target and three tackles. Adams combined his goal with one assist, while Djibril Sow created three chances from midfield.
Yellow cards flew late in the contest. Villarreal's Alfonso Perez received a caution in the 81st minute. Rafael Veiga joined him on the booking sheet in the 90th minute. Sevilla's Jose Antonio Carmona saw yellow in the 90th minute.
This result reshapes the race for European places. Villarreal remains third but saw their advantage shrink. Sevilla's three points provide momentum as they chase mid-table security.
