Aleix Vidal brace helps Sevilla to commanding win over Fiorentina

Aleix Vidal bagged a brace as Sevilla gave themselves a commanding 3-0 lead after the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Fiorentina at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

The full-back - a surprise inclusion in Unai Emery's side - scored either side of half time before setting up Kevin Gameiro for the third goal with a miskick.

Fiorentina missed a hatful of chances, with Matias Fernandez guilty of missing two sitters in the first half which would have given the tie a very different complexion.

Vincenzo Montella will be ruing the missed chances and will need a more incisive performance from his team next week if they are to produce a remarkable comeback to reach the final in Warsaw. Sevilla look more than half way there already.

6’ – CHANCE! Joaquin slips in Gomez on the edge of the area. He takes one touch before letting fly with his left foot but it flies over. A good early chance.

17’ – GOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Fiorentina. Tremoulinas goes scampering down the left and plays it forward to Vitolo in the box. He finds Bacca who spins with his back to goal to lay Vidal just inside the area and he makes no mistake to finish into the bottom corner.

19’ – CHANCE! Joaquin gets to the touchline and lays it back to Fernandez just six yards out but he gets it all wrong under no pressure and hits it high and wide.

24’ – CHANCE! Fernandez again as he picks up a cut back in the area. He touches the ball around Carrico and lets fly on his left foot but it is brilliantly smothered by Rico.

25’ – CHANCE! Tomovic with a brilliant low cross to the far post from the right which finds Salah with the goal gaping but his timid finish is again smothered brilliantly by Rico.

52’ – GOAL! Sevilla 2-0 Fiorentina. Vidal again as he gallops down the right wing and is played in by Vitolo. He takes one touch and slots past the sprawling goalkeeper to double the lead.

75’- GOAL! Sevilla 3-0 Fiorentina. Tremoulinas on the overlap as he cuts the ball back for Vidal but his miscued shot finds Gameiro who diverts the ball goalward with his first touch.

78’ – CHANCE! Could have been four as Coke and Vidal combine on the right and find Banega in the middle but he miscues his left footed placed shot badly and lofts it wide and high.

Fiorentina have still never won a match in Spain.

Kevin Gameiro scored just 26 seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Sevilla have lost just once in their last 35 games at home in all competitions.

Mohammed Salah has scored once and assisted once in his last 13 games after tonight’s blank.

Fiorentina have now kept just one clean sheet in their last nine games.

Will Fiorentina’s wasted chances cost them a place in the final? It looks that way. Sevilla’s history in this competition will mean they go to Italy with command of the tie and, with the lead, will be very confident of a place in the final. La Viola missed a string of good chances and will be annoyed they couldn’t have finished with a positive result most of their attacking deserved.

Aleix Vidal (Sevilla): The full-back bagged twice in what was a marauding display down the right side. He took both his goals like a natural striker and even when moved to right wing, persistently caused his opposite number all sorts of problems. Considering he was somewhat of a surprise inclusion, he looked like he’d been playing in European semi-finals for the past 20 years.

Sevilla: Rico 7, Vidal 9, Carrico 7, Kolo 7, Tremoulinas 8, Krychowiak 7, Mbia 7, Banega 8, Reyes 7, Vitolo 8, Bacca 8. Subs: Coke 7, Iborra 7, Gameiro 8.

Fiorentina: Neto 5, Tomovic 7, Savic 6, Rodriguez 6, Alonso 6, Fernandez 7, Badelj 5, Borja Valero 5, Joaquin 7, Gomez 5, Salah 5. Subs: Richards 7, Pizarro 6, Ilicic 5.