A no-look penalty and another Monchi recruitment masterclass leaves Sevilla close to a Champions League return
Lucas Ocampos was looking the other way when Sevilla scored the penalty that virtually secured their return to the Champions League last night – and he was the one taking it. The man who had racked up 13 goals and one last minute save, the forward who had scored one and stopped another just six days earlier, pulling on the goalie top and pulling off a 101st minute rescue mission, was on the spot again. Bouncing the ball and beaming, if the responsibility was his the appearance belonged to a man without a care in the world. What happened next did, too.
There were a few minutes left until half-time against Mallorca on Sunday night when for the fifth time in four games in a single day – twice in Cornellá, twice at Butarque, now once at the Sánchez Pizjuán – someone sitting in a room a long way away had seen a handball. For the 16th time this season, more than any other team ever, Mallorca were facing a penalty. As Ocampos stood waiting to take it, Mallorca goalkeeper Manolo Reina came for a chat, laughing and trying to put him off. Sergio Reguilón planted a kiss on his cheek. Éver Banega had a word. And then there was quiet, just the sound of Reina 12 yards away, shouting “Lucas! Lucas!”
Related: Atalanta's distant dream dashed as handball rule checks Serie A charge | Nicky Bandini
Atlético Madrid 1-0 Real Betis, Espanyol 0-2 Eibar, Leganés 1-0 Valencia, Levante 1-2 Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna 2-1 Celta Vigo, Real Valladolid 0-1 Barcelona, Sevilla 2-0 Mallorca
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