Sevilla lose ground in title race with Leganes draw

Sevilla's title challenge suffered a serious blow as they dropped two valuable points in a 1-1 draw against Leganes.

Jorge Sampaoli's side looked strangely short of energy and were fortunate to come away with a point following an impressive display by the relegation-threatened visitors. Leganes certainly had enough chances to win.

They took the lead after just two minutes when Gabriel Pires turned home a Nabil El Zhar cross into the Sevilla net past Sergio Rico. Stevan Jovetic equalised somewhat against the run of play before the half time break to give his side a platform.

But the hosts failed to build on that and were drawn into a slugfest with Leganes going toe-to-toe with the title challengers, who are now three points adrift of Liga leaders Barcelona, who will play their game in-hand against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.

Sampaoli’s side are now three points short of the top of the table, with leaders Barcelona also holding a game in-hand. With the final stretch of the season now coming into sight have Sevilla given themselves too big a gap to bridge if they are to win their first top flight title since 1946? Can they really catch Barca if they are dropping points at home to teams like Leganes?

The young Brazilian playmaker was the best player on the pitch, scoring the opener to give an early indication that Leganes hadn’t turned up at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan just to roll over. Gabriel was impressive throughout and gave Sevilla all sorts of problems, making the most of the defensive vulnerability showed by the hosts. He could have scored more than one.

Sevilla - Rico 5, Mariano 6, Lenglet 5, Rami 6, Carrico 6, Kranevitter 7, Montoya 6, Sarabia 6, Vazquez 7, Correa 5, Jovetic 7. Subs - Iborra 5, N’Zonzi 6, Vietto 5.

Leganes - Herrerin 7, Tito 6, Bustinza 6, Mantovani 6, Siovas 5, Szymanowski 7, Moran 6, Perez 5, El Zhar 7, Guerrero 6, Gabriel 8. Subs - Machis 6, Luciano 6, Insua 5.

3’ GOAL! Sevilla 0-1 Leganes: The away side have a shock lead at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan! Leganes have started the better of the two sides, with Gabriel flicking in El Zhar's cross right cross the face of the goal. Sevilla are behind.

12’ CORREA SHOULD HAVE SCORED! The ball into the Leganes penalty area from a free-kick was a good one, but Correa got underneath it and lifts his header well over the crossbar.

14’ WHAT A CHANCE FOR 2-0! Sevilla were caught out in the wing-back areas, with El Zhar passed the ball inside the penalty box. But with time and space he lifts his finish over. Oh dear.

43’ GOAL! Sevilla 1-1 Leganes: That's the best move Sevilla have strung together all game and they have found an equaliser through it! Jovetic gets on the end of a through ball in behind and finishes at the second attempt from close range.

62’ LEGANES SHOULD HAVE SCORED! The ball was played out to Guerrero at the back post, who had loads of time and space, but he sliced his first time volley past the post. Oh dear.

82’ BIG DARWIN CHANCE! That was the opportunity Leganes had been waiting for to regain the lead, but Darwin went himself instead of squaring for the unmarked Luciano in the middle.

Gabriel Pires scored Leganes' fastest ever goal in a Liga match (two minutes and two seconds).

Sevilla have now gone eight games without losing.