Lopetegui under increasing pressure after Sevilla held again
MADRID (AP) - Sevilla's struggles continued with a 1-1 draw at Villarreal in the Spanish league on Sunday, leaving the club near the relegation zone and increasing the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui.
It was Sevilla's seventh game without a win in eight matches this season in all competitions. It sat only one point from the relegation zone after six league matches.
Lopetegui, the former Spain and Real Madrid coach, has been under fire because of the team's poor start and many fans have called for a change in command. Sevilla entered the season amid high expectations after a fourth-place finish in 2021-22, when it often stayed near the top.
'œI'm not going to talk about the future, that's very complicated,'ť Lopetegui said. 'œI can only talk about the present. There is still a lot to be played for and we will try to get better and compete.'ť
Sevilla's only win this season was at Espanyol in the league last weekend. It had four losses in its other six matches, including a 4-0 rout against Manchester City at home in the group stage of the Champions League and a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish league, also at home.
Sevilla took the lead on Sunday with a goal by Óliver Torres in the eighth minute after an assist by Isco Alarcón, but Ãlex Baena equalized for the hosts in the 51st.
Unai Emery's Villarreal is closer to the top in the standings and was looking for its fourth win in six league matches. It has 11 points, six more than Sevilla.
Villarreal is playing its home matches at Levante's stadium in the nearby city of Valencia because of renovation work at its La Cerámica stadium.
BETIS RALLIES
Real Betis joined Real Madrid and Barcelona as the only teams with five league wins by coming from behind to defeat Girona 2-1.
Borja Iglesias scored for the hosts in the 15th and 71st minutes, after midtable Girona had opened the scoring with a goal from Arnau MartÃnez in the seventh.
Manuel Pellegrini's Betis has won four in a row in all competitions since a loss at Madrid in the Spanish league.
GETAFE STAYS HOT
Getafe won 2-0 at 10-man Osasuna for its second consecutive win after a poor start to the season.
The hosts played with 10 men from the 43rd minute after Chimy Ãvila was sent off with a straight red card for a hard foul.
Juan Iglesias put Getafe ahead in the 30th and Gastón Ãlvarez added to the lead in the 76th.
Getafe had opened with three losses and a draw and had been in the relegation zone. Osasuna was one of the hottest clubs at the start of the season, with four wins from its first five league matches.
SOCIEDAD REBOUNDS
Real Sociedad rebounded from a loss at Getafe by beating Espanyol 2-1 at home with first-half goals by Alexander Sorloth and Brais Méndez.
Espanyol, which has lost two in a row, scored with Edu Expósito, also before halftime.
Defending champion Madrid visits city rival Atlético Madrid later Sunday to try to regain the lead from Barcelona, which defeated Elche 3-0 at home on Saturday for its fifth straight league victory.
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