Sevilla vs. Valencia: Live Player Ratings

FULL TIME Sevilla 2-0 Valencia

It's an all-Spanish affair in the Europa League semi-final on Thursday, with Sevilla hosting Valencia in the first leg.

Sevilla have performed better in La Liga this season and look like locking up fourth place, while Valencia will have a battle on their hands if they want to finish higher than eighth.

After a flowing first half, Sevilla have a big advantage thanks to two goals in three minutes. Valencia's defence fell apart in the latter stages of the half to hand the momentum to their opponents.

The second term saw Valencia attempt to claw a goal back, but Sevilla created more chances of their own and hung on to their lead.

Sevilla

Player	HT	FT
Beto	7	7
Diogo	6	7
Pareja	8	7
Fazio	8	8
Navarro	7	6
Carrico	6	7
Mbia	7	8
Reyes	6	5
Rakitic	8	9
Vitolo	7	6
Bacca	8	8

Valencia

Player	HT	FT
Guaita	6	7
Pereira	6	6
Fuego	4	4
Mathieu	4	3
Bernat	5	5
Feghouli	6	5
Keita	7	7
Parejo	5	4
Fede	7	7
Vargas	6	8
Paco	5	5

See here at full-time for player summaries:  

Sevilla

Beto: Was prepared when called on. One good save at the end from Jonas, but Valencia didn't test him much.

Diogo: Did not venture forward much, but did his job defensively.

Pareja: Strong in the middle, he gave the Valencia attackers little space.

Fazio: One of the figures of the match. Dominant in defence. He won three headers from free kicks, but perhaps should have steered one of them past the keeper.

Navarro: Slightly more adventurous than Diogo on the other side, he played his role with distinction.

Carrico: Was mostly able to restrict Valencia's midfielders, while circulating the ball well for his teammates.

Mbia: Beautifully taken goal with a backwards flick (though there was a hint of offside), and he was also a driving force in midfield.

Reyes: After a few promising signs early, he faded to have virtually no influence on proceedings. Disappointing. Marin did a much better job when he replaced him.

Rakitic: Master class from the Croatian. He was the conductor of the Sevilla orchestra. Every attacking move was channeled through him, and he also delivered numerous threatening free kicks. 

Vitolo: Combined well with Rakitic at times, though did disappear for some periods. 

Bacca: Bustling with energy, the Colombian is always dangerous. Well-taken goal, though he did scuff a few chances as well.

Valencia

Guaita: Could not have done much about either goal. Made some crucial saves to keep his team in the tie.

J. Pereira: Made some useful forays forward, but did not see a lot of the ball.

Fuego: Slack at times, he must take some responsibility for both Sevilla goals.

Mathieu: Did a terrible job of marking Fazio at set pieces, and was also careless on the Sevilla goals.

Bernat: Should have gotten more involved, it was telling that Jose Gaya was more active when he came on at half time.

Feghouli: Didn't see much of the ball, and thus had virtually no impact on the game.

Keita: Worked hard in midfield, unlike some of his teammates.

Parejo: Had a particularly lazy game, and can be blamed for the likes of Rakitic enjoying so much space.

Fede: Looked one of the livelier Valencia players in the first half, though he faded in the second term to be replaced by Piatti, who also showed some spark.

Vargas: Got more involved in the second half, and thus added an extra dimension to Valencia's attack. One of his side's best.

Paco: Did not receive the service he needed to create chances. Quiet game.