May 9 (UPI) — Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos made several mistakes, contributing to a 3-2 loss against Sevilla Wednesday at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Sevilla, Spain.
The home squad took the lead in the 31st minute, getting a brilliant score from Wissam Ben Yedder. Sevilla forward Luis Muriel was on a receiving end of a very deep pass from defender Nicolas Pareja on the play. Muriel squared up for a head ball and sent the flick to onto Ben Yedder. The Sevilla forward outpaced Ramos and finished with a nutmeg of Madrid keeper Kiko Casilla.
Ben Yedder contributed to another Sevilla goal just before halftime. That time, he dribbled down the left flank, before firing a pass into the box for Steven Nzonzi. The French midfielder lost the ball momentarily, before regaining control and firing a short pass to Miguel Layun. The Mexican defender hammered home the score for a 2-0 advantage.
Ramos’ game started to unwind in the 57th minute. Lucas Vazquez was tripped up in the box, prompting a penalty kick for Madrid. Ramos stepped up for the attempt. He ran forward and drilled the crossbar with his kick, failing to cut the Sevilla lead in half.
His next miscue helped Sevilla increase the lead to three goals. Ramos was defending Gabriel Mercardo in the 84th minute during that sequence. Mercardo ran down the right flank before attempting a cross in the box. The ball deflected off of Ramos’ left boot and went into the far post netting for an own goal.
Borja Mayoral helped Madrid get one back just three minutes later. Marco Asensio sent in a curling cross from the right side of the pitch and Mayoral headed the feed perfectly past David Soria in the 87th minute.
Ramos returned for some redemption in the 95th minute of the match. Madrid’s Theo Hernandez fell down in the box after an exchange with Mercado. That foul prompted another Ramos penalty kick. Ramos’ strike was true, as he beat Soria to his right.
“He’s our captain and every time we come here he’s involved in something,” Madrid manager Zinedine Zisdane told reporters. “His first penalty wasn’t the greatest but that happens. He played well, like everyone else, especially in the second half.”
Madrid battles Celta Vigo and Villarreal before taking on Liverpool in the Champions League final on May 26 in Kiev, Ukraine.
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