Sevilla grind out La Liga win over Valencia with late Iglesias strike
Reviewed by Elison · Fri 11 Sep 2026La Liga
SevillaFULL-TIME
ValenciaFriday 11 September 2026 · 21:00
Our score 1-1MissedHot tip Full-time draw✗ Lost
Introduction
Sevilla claimed all three points at home in La Liga, defeating Valencia 1-0 thanks to a late goal from Juan Antonio Iglesias Sánchez. The only moment of quality in front of goal that ultimately mattered arrived in the 81st minute, securing a hard-fought and narrow victory for the hosts. For Valencia, it was a frustrating evening that yielded little in the way of genuine attacking threat, despite their dominance of possession throughout the match.
How the game unfolded
Ryunosuke Sato was booked for Valencia in the 27th minute, an early sign of the visitors’ defensive struggles to come. The first half otherwise passed without a goal, Valencia holding more of the ball but creating little of note in front of goal.
Both sides made changes around the hour mark, and Chidera Ejuke, who came on for Sevilla in the 63rd minute, was booked just four minutes later. Giorgi Kochorashvili entered for Sevilla in the 71st minute, and his influence was felt almost immediately.
The only goal of the match arrived in the 81st minute: Juan Iglesias broke the deadlock with an effort assisted by Giorgi Kochorashvili, giving Sevilla a lead they would not relinquish. Both benches made further changes in the closing stages, and Pablo Maffeo was booked for Valencia in the 88th minute as frustration set in for the visitors.
Sevilla held on for a 1-0 victory, with Valencia — who managed no shots on target across the ninety minutes — unable to find a reply despite having the greater share of possession throughout the match.
The numbers
On the surface, the statistics favoured Valencia, yet the scoreline told a very different story. Valencia enjoyed the majority of possession, controlling 54% of the ball to Sevilla’s 46%, and completed 349 accurate passes from a total of 427, compared to Sevilla’s 274 from 348. Despite this dominance in the middle of the park, Valencia converted almost none of it into genuine danger. They registered just three shots in total — one inside the box and two outside — and crucially failed to register a single shot on target across the entire 90 minutes.
Sevilla, by contrast, were far more purposeful in their attacking play. The hosts fired 13 shots in total, with nine coming from inside the box and four hitting the target. Their goalkeeper was not called upon to make a single save, a statistic that underlines just how toothless Valencia were in the final third. Sevilla won six corners to Valencia’s four, while Valencia committed 12 fouls to Sevilla’s eight. Valencia’s goalkeeper made three saves to deny the hosts from extending the lead. Sevilla earned 11 free kicks, suggesting Valencia at least worked hard defensively when required. Valencia collected two yellow cards to Sevilla’s one, and neither side had a player sent off.
Conclusion
This was a victory built on defensive solidity and clinical efficiency rather than free-flowing football. Sevilla did enough in the moments that counted, with Iglesias Sánchez’s 81st-minute strike proving the difference. Valencia will be left to reflect on a performance that was statistically impressive in terms of possession and passing, yet profoundly lacking in end product. Three points for Sevilla in La Liga, earned the hard way.
