Watch: Sevilla's 92nd-minute goal ends Real Madrid's unbeaten run at 40 games
CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP / Getty
Done. Over. Finito.
On Sunday, by virtue of a thrilling comeback that resurrected the title race in La Liga, Sevilla defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, bringing an end to Los Blancos’ unbeaten run which stood at a Spanish record of 40 fixtures in all competitions.
Real Madrid looked set to add a 41st match to its undefeated streak until deep into the second half. Then, in the 85th minute, a free-kick from Pablo Sarabia forced Sergio Ramos to act on the ball, and the Spanish centre-back ended up throwing his former club a lifeline, deflecting the ball into his own net to bring the match level.
Riding a wave of momentum, Sevilla then achieved the unthinkable in the 92nd minute. Stevan Jovetic, who only joined the Andalusian club five days ago and also scored on his debut, produced a 25-yard curler that Keylor Navas got a hand to but couldn’t stop from landing in the back net.
Just like that, Real Madrid’s unbeaten run was over, Los Blancos losing their first game since April of last year, when VfL Wolfsburg beat the Spanish club 2-0 in the first leg of a Champions League tie.
Only three days ago, it was a very different scene at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan as Sevilla hosted Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Jorge Sampaoli’s side was on the verge of ending Los Blancos’ undefeated streak until the 93rd minute, when Karim Benzema dribbled his way through Clement Lenglet and Sergio Escudero, and slotted the ball past David Soria. The 3-3 draw resulted in Zinedine Zidane’s side advancing to the tournament’s quarter-finals with a 6-3 victory on aggregate and setting the unbeaten record.
It might be hard to believe, but TSG 1899 Hoffenheim is now the only club from European football’s top five leagues yet to lose a league match this season.