Dinamo Zagreb 0 - 1 Sevilla: Sevilla take step closer to Champions League knockout stages with win in Zagreb
Posted Wednesday, October 19, 2016 by PA
Sevilla took a step closer to the Champions League knockout stages as Samir Nasri scored the only goal of a 1-0 win at Dinamo Zagreb.
The Frenchman's deft first-half finish was reward for a dominant performance from the Spaniards on a wet night at the Maksimir Stadium.
Victory kept Sevilla level on points with Juventus at the top of Group H and Jorge Sampaoli's men could qualify for the next stage when they host Dinamo in a fortnight.
Dinamo are rock bottom of the group, without a point or a goal, and have had three different managers in charge of their three games so far.
The newly-installed Ivaylo Petev at least avoided the type of hammering dished out in Dinamo's first two games, when they let in seven goals.
Sevilla arguably should have won by more, but for some glaring misses, with Nasri guilty of that when he somehow stabbed wide from barely a yard out.
The visitors had otherwise looked to test young goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic from long range in the treacherous conditions.
The 21-year-old was up to the task when he pulled off a brilliant stop at full length to keep out Mariano's well-hit volley from the edge of the area.
Dinamo lost skipper Domagoj Antolic to injury and then fell behind on 37 minutes when Nasri made amends for his earlier miss.
The on-loan midfielder ran unmarked into the area and expertly helped on Mariano's cross with the instep of his left foot to beat Livakovic, who had drifted too far from his near post.
Sevilla continued to dominate after half-time but a second glaring miss, this time from Luciano Vietto, prevented them from taking a two-goal lead.
The forward showed good skill to craft the chance but shot wide from six yards and was substituted moments later.
Gordon Schildenfeld headed Dinamo's best chance over as their hopes in the group already looked forlorn at the halfway point.
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