Sevilla's miserable week gets worse with defeat to lowly Elche
Madrid, March 6, 2021 (AFP) - Sevilla ended a nightmare week by losing 2-1 against struggling Elche on Saturday, three days after being denied a place in the Copa del Rey final by Barcelona.
A draining semi-final second leg at Camp Nou, which saw Barca come from two goals behind to advance after extra-time, might have taken its toll on Sevilla, who sank to their third defeat in eight days.
Julen Lopetegui's also lost 2-0 at home to Barcelona last weekend in a fixture in La Liga.
That result had all-but extinguished Sevilla's hopes of competing in the title race but losing to Elche could even give hope to those chasing fourth.
Real Sociedad are closest to Sevilla in fifth, now six points behind.
Elche's victory also boosts their chances of avoiding relegation, with the team lifted to 17th, out of the bottom three and two points above Eibar.
Two goals in six minutes sealed it, Raul Guti and Guido Carrillo giving Sevilla too much to do, despite a 90th-minute consolation from Luuk de Jong.