Real Madrid slump to sorry defeat to Sevilla

Real Madrid suffered yet another chastening experience in La Liga this season as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat to Sevilla.

Wissam Ben Yedder opened the scoring for Sevilla and Miguel Layun doubled the hosts' lead with Zinedine Zidane's side extremely poor. A total of seven changes were made to the team that faced Barcelona in the Clasico at the weekend, but even taking this into account, this was a dismal showing by the capital club.

A Sergio Ramos own goal late on capped off a dreadful night for the visitors before consolation goals from Borja Mayoral and the Real defender deep in stoppage time restored some sense of pride, but did nothing to affect the final outcome.

The defeat leaves Real three points behind rivals Atletico and 18 points behind Barcelona having played the same number of games. It’ll be a very different team that faces Liverpool in the Champions League final later this month, but this wasn’t exactly the ideal preparation for that match.

There was much hype about Dani Ceballos signing from Real Betis last summer, but this was just another episode in what has become a disappointing first season for the midfielder at Real Madrid. Ceballos looked out of his depth and allowed the fans of his former rivals to get to him, losing his cool on occasion. Was this the end for Ceballos as a Real Madrid player? Will he still be at the club next season?

The French striker gave Sevilla the lead in the first half and much of the Andalusians’ play flowed through him throughout. Both Ramos and Jesus Vallejo struggled to deal with Ben Yedder and in truth the 27-year-old could have scored more than once, such was the strength of his performance. He exposed the defensive vulnerabilities that will give Liverpool hope ahead of their clash with Real Madrid in Kiev later this month.

Sevilla - Soria 7, Escudero 6, Pareja 5, Lenglet 6, Mercado 4, Pizarro 5, N’Zonzi 7, Muriel 8, Layun 8, Vazquez 7, Ben Yedder 8. Subs - Carrico 6, Mesa 5, Sandro 6.

Real Madrid - Casilla 7, Nacho 5, Ramos 4, Vallejo 4, Theo 5, Casemiro 5, Ceballos 4, Kovacic 5, Vazquez 5, Asensio 6, Benzema 5. Subs - Llorente 4, Mayoral 6.

26’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Real Madrid: The hosts have taken the lead just before the half hour mark! Ben Yedder held off the challenge from Ramos and slid the finish under the Real Madrid goalkeeper. Good player from the French striker!

57’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Vazquez brings down Vazquez inside the box and that's an easy decision for the referee to make.

58’ PENALTY KICK MISSED! It's Ramos who steps up to the 12-yard mark and fires a shot towards goal. But the Real Madrid centre back smashes his effort off the underside of the bar and away.

83’ GOAL! Sevilla 3-0 Real Madrid: How on earth did that go in? That's game over and the hosts have all three points. Mercado was crossing into the box, but it took big deflection off Ramos and found the far corner of the net.

87’ GOAL! Sevilla 3-1 Real Madrid: It's too little too late for Real Madrid. Mayoral gets on the end of the cross from Asensio and finds the back of the net with a header, but it's a more consolation goal.

95’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Theo has gone down in the box off the ball. What happened there?

95’ GOAL! Sevilla 3-2 Real Madrid: This time Ramos steps up to the 12-yard mark and sends Soria the wrong way. Surely it's too late for Real Madrid to rescue a point here? This one is over ... probably.

Sergio Ramos has now scored two own-goals in his career in La Liga, both against Sevilla.

Real Madrid had just two touches of the ball in the opposition box in the first half, fewer than in any other first half of a La Liga game this season.