First-half goals from Vicente Iborra and Daniel Carrico have given Sevilla a 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga this evening.
The result moves the Europa League semi-finalists up to fourth in the table as they look to challenge for a Champions League place.
Vallecano pressed hard in the second half, but were unable to find the back of the net.
Read how all the action unfolded below.
5.32pmGood evening! Sevilla will be hoping to move up to fourth in the La Liga table when they kick off against Rayo Vallecano in half an hour. Let's start with a look at the team news...
5.33pmSEVILLA STARTING XI: Rico, Tremoulinas, Figueiras, Carrico, Kolodzieczak, Krychowiak, Reyes, Iborra, Suarez, Banega, Gameiro
5.34pmRAYO VALLECANO STARTING XI: Tono, Amaya, Insua, Ba, Quini, Baena, Trashorras, Kakuta, Aquino, Pozuelo, Manucho
5.35pmSEVILLA SUBSTITUTES: Soria, Navarro, Aspas, M'bia, Bacca, Deulofeu, Vidal
5.36pmRAYO VALLECANO SUBSTITUTES: Cobeno, Martinez, Morcillo, Embarba, Miku, Bueno
5.39pmFresh from securing their place in the Europa League semi-finals, Sevilla have made seven changes to the side that started Thursday's 2-2 draw with Zenit St Petersburg. Among the changes, Sergio Rico returns ahead of Beto between the posts, while Vicente Iborra, Denis Suarez and Kevin Gameiro, who all came off the bench during the week, return to the starting lineup. Carlos Bacca, who was on the scoresheet on Thursday, is only on the bench.
5.42pmThere are plenty of changes for the visitors too following their 2-0 victory over Almeria last time out. Alejandro Pozuelo, Abdoulaye Ba, Quini, Emiliano Insua, Raul Baena and Javier Aquino all come in after sitting out last weekend's victory.
5.45pmAhead of this match, Vallecano coach Paco Jemez said at a press conference: "We have only one objective, which is to fight to finish as high as possible in the table. Finishing seventh will not be easy and therefore only a win will do for us and we're going to try to win our six remaining games. We have nothing to lose."
5.48pmMeanwhile, Sevilla boss Unai Emery said at his pre-match media briefing: "They are a consistent team apart from in a few games, when they can leave themselves exposed and sometimes are on the wrong end of alarming scorelines. They are a dangerous team to play and I don't expect us to score against them easily. From my experience, we will have to run very hard against them and demand a lot of ourselves."
5.50pmVictory this evening will be enough to move Sevilla above Valencia for the final Champions League spot, but their top-four rivals will have a game in hand. Sevilla are certainly in the race for a Champions League spot, but last week's draw with Granada means they'll need Valencia to slip up along the way.
5.52pmBeating Rayo Valecano will not be simple though as the Madrid side have won four of their last six league matches. Rayo could have a big part to play in deciding who gets the final Champions League spot too, as they host Valencia next week.
5.54pmThere have been a couple of La Liga matches already completed today, including Almeria beating Eiba 2-0 to move out of the relegation zone. You can find reports from all of today's matches on our results page.
5.57pmPREDICTION! With kickoff just a few minutes away, there's just time for a quick prediction. Rayo will be a difficult side to beat, but Sevilla remain unbeaten at home this season. With so many changes, Sevilla should be well rested following their 2-2 draw with Zenit, so I think they'll just have enough to take the win. I'm going for a 2-1 home win.
6.00pmThe players are making their way out ready for kickoff. It's packed at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as the team's fans look to help their players keep the pressure on Valencia. The action should be getting underway in just a few moments.
1 minKICKOFF! The visitors get the match underway.
3 minThe hosts try to apply the pressure early on as Roberto Trashorras pulls Kolodzieczak down in midfield. Ever Banega launches it deep into the box, but there's a little too much on the ball, and it ends up going straight out behind.
5 minCHANCE! Sevilla have the first sot of the night as the host get forward down the right. Suarez crosses it in for Gameiro, but the striker can't get to it. Tremoulinas is in space though, and the defender hits it first time, but the finish is a poor one.
6 minCHANCE! Sergio Rico comes under pressure down the other end as Pozuelo tees the ball up for Gael Kakuta, who strikes it sweetly looking for the top corner, but the keeper stretches well to tip it behind.
9 minRayo are certainly not sitting back, as a free kick sets Quini up to cross the ball back into the Sevilla penalty area, but Pozuelo can't get the shot away before the ball is cleared.
11 minSevilla break quickly on the counter-attack, with Suarez skipping around a couple of Rayo defenders before trying to square the ball to Banega, but the visitors get numgers back to crowd the winger out and clear the danger.
13 minThere's an early injury concern for the visitors as Antonio Amaya appears to have pulled something while sliding to take the ball away from Gameiro. It looks like that's going to be the end of his evening.
14 minSUB! Indeed, that's it for Amaya, with Jorge Morcillo coming on in his place for Vallecano.
16 minCHANCE! Denis Suarez has been looking lively in the opening quarter of an hour for the hosts, and he forces a save from Tono as he bursts down the left before cutting inside, rounding a couple of defenders, but his finish needed more power.
17 minGOAL! Sevilla 1-0 Rayo Vallecano (Vicente Iborra)
17 minIt's a clinical first-touch finish from Vicente Iborra to give Sevilla an early lead. Diogo Figueiras does the hard work, creating space on the edge of the box before pulling it back for the midfielder, who is let unmarked around 10 yards out, leaving him to simply chip it into the far left of the goal.
19 minRayo try to responds quickly as Insua races towards the home side's penalty area, setting up Manucho for a header, but it ends up going well high of the crossbar.
22 minSevilla are looking for a second as a high ball forward falls for Suarez, leaving the on-loan winger to get the better of Baena with his impressive pace. He takes a touch too many though, allowing Baena to recover, and the defender just does enough to put the Sevilla man off as he unleashes his shot, scuffing the ball wide.
25 minRayo certainly haven't let their heads drop as they push to get back on level terms, forcing a corner. Quini has been getting forward quite often to help out in attack, but he's leaving too much space at the back for Suarez in particular to attack.
27 minCHANCE! How are the hosts not 2-0 up?! Gameiro hammers the ball towards the goal from just a few yards out as Iborra slid the ball forward, but Tono's excellent reactions manage to turn it behind for a corner.
29 minAfter surviving a couple of corners, the visitors press forward again, with Trahorras winning a corner for Vallecano. Aquino's delivery is overhit though, floating past his teammates in the middle to leave Sevilla with an easy clearance.
31 minBOOKING! Jorge Morcillo is the first man to pick up a yellow card for a late challenge on Gameiro. The sub might actually be a bit lucky to still be on the pitch, as he was the last man, but the offence was out wide, which might just have spared the defender.
35 minSevilla have really started to dictate the play in the last couple of minutes, getting forward several times as they press to double their lead. However, Trashorras gets it back for the visitors and launches them back down the other end, but Insua could not keep it in while looking to cross from out wide.
38 minSuarez tries to create something down the left flank again for the hosts. He really has looked sharp so far this evening, but this time his first touch is a little off, and he has to let the ball go out.
40 minReyes plays a well-timed through ball to Gameiro out wide, and the striker thinks that he's away as the sprints towards the box, but he had just edged ahead of the last defender, forcing the assistant referee to flag him for offside.
42 minCHANCE! Tono is in the right place at the right time to prevent Gameiro doubling Sevilla's lead just before the break. Kakuta gets caught out in midfield, allowing the forward to burst into the box unmarked, but the keeper just gets it behind.
43 minGOAL! Sevilla 2-0 Rayo Vallecano (Daniel Carrico)
43 minIt's a header from an impossible angle to add Sevilla's second of the evening, and it's a first goal of the season for centre-back Daniel Carrico. Suarez works hard out wide before crossing it in to the defender, who is almost level with the post a couple of yards to the right of the goal, but somehow he manages to slice it in from the tightest of angles.
45+1 minThere's just one minute of stoppage time to be played as the match heads towards half time. Sevilla try to get forward again, with Suarez and Banega teaming up, but it looks like they're going to run out of time.
45+1 minHALF TIME: Sevilla 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
6.51pmSo at the interval, the home side are in control with a 2-0 lead, which would be enough to move them up to fourth in the table this evening. Vicente Iborra's goal was well-taken, but the headed finish from Daniel Carrico just before the break was just stunning!
6.54pmThe defender dedicated his goal to teammate Nicolas Pareja, who picked up a knee ligament injury during the Europa League match against Zenit on Thursday, which will keep him out for the next seven months.
6.57pmThe visitors actually had a bit more of the ball in the opening 45 minutes with 54% of the possession. Sevilla had more chances though with eight shots, five of which were on target, compared to six shots, one testing the keeper, for the visitors.
6.59pmAlthough not on the scoresheet, Denis Suarez was the pick of the players for Sevilla in the opening 45 minutes. The on-loan Barcalona winger's pace down the left has caused all sorts of problems for Vallecano, while his cross for Carrico's goal was excellent
© Getty Images
© Getty Images7.01pmThe players are making their way back out ready for the second half.
46 minRESTART! Sevilla get the action back underway.
49 minThe visitors have been keeping the ball well in the opening few minutes of this half, and they win a free kick in a dangerous position when Kakuta is brought down just outside the box. It's a promising start for Vallecano.
51 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Vallecano have the ball in the back of the net as Kakuta's initial free kick is cleared, but the ball is played back in. It goes in off Krychowiak for what appears to be an own goal, but Aquino and Manucho were both offside as the ball game back in, so the referee ruled it out. The visitors aren't happy, as neither of the offside duo touched the ball, but the referee isn't changing his mind.
54 minCHANCE! Vallecano are on the attack again, but Gameiro wins it back in midfield, beating Kakuta for pace to make his way into the box. Tono comes off his line, but the striker can't get get the angle to slice it in, while a rebound from Ever Banega is wide.
57 minSevilla look dangerous every time they break from midfield this evening, with Suarez bursting into the box with Gameiro to his right in support, but Manucho is back to make a perfectly-timed tackle, preventing the winger from getting the cross in.
60 minCHANCE! Vallecano have been much more organised going forward since the restart, allowing Manucho to chip the ball forward for Aquino, but Figueiras does enough to force it behind.
61 minCHANCE! Manucho and Aquino link up again as the visitors try to create something again. Their initial charge is halted, but Aquino gets a second chance from the edge of the box, but can only drag it wide.
62 minSUB! The hosts make their first change of the night, with Gerard Duelofeu taking the place of Ever Banega.
65 minHaving survived a few close calls in the second half, Sevilla are just trying to slow the pace down a little and keep possession, but Vallecano soon win it back in midfield as they try to take advantage against a side that are starting to look a little tired.
67 minSevilla charge forward quickly, with Gameiro breaking into the box. He squares it to Deulofeu, who tries to turn on the edge of the box, but his control is sloppy, and the visitors are able to clear.
69 minSUB! Sevilla make another change, with Kevin Gameiro making way for Carlos Bacca.
70 minSUB! Javier Aquino makes way for Vallecano, with Adri Embarba coming on for the final 20 minutes or so.
72 minCHANCE! Jose Antonio Reyes has a chance to put all three points beyond doubt for Sevilla as he runs from inside his own half to the edge of the box before trying to rifle the ball into the bottom corner, but Tono just gets a hand to it.
74 minCHANCE! Kakuta immediately has a chance down the other end for the visitors as Baena launches the counter-attack. The winger has the ball in space, and is unmarked, but somehow he fires wide.
75 minCHANCE! Vallecano are really piling forward now, resulting in Pozuelo unleashing a shot from the edge of the box, but Insua can't get out the way in time, blocking his teammates finish.
76 minBOOKING! Insua is just the second player to be booked for a reckless challenge on Suarez in the middle.
78 minSUB! Iago Aspas is the final player to come on for the hosts, replacing Jose Antonio Reyes.
79 minCHANCE! Roberto Trashorras unleashes a rather optimistic strike from 20 yards out, hitting it first time. It takes a deflection, and Rico leaves it thinking it's going well wide, but it's just a fraction past the left post. Sevilla quickly deal with the resulting corner though.
82 minCHANCE! How many more opportunities do Rayo need?! Pozuelo sprints towards the Sevilla goal, and can take it on himself, but squares it to Kakuta. He isn't willing to take the shot on either, passing it back to Pozuelo, but his effort is more power than accuracy, going well high of the crossbar. Vallecano have been superb in the second half, but some of their finishing has been awful.
84 minCHANCE! Sevilla haven't been on the attack much in the last 10 minutes, but Deulofeu has a chance to tap in from close range after Bacca burst through to slice the ball in for the winger, but he can't get enough on it.
86 minCHANCE! Sevilla are really looking for the third now as Denis Suarez uses his pace to get in space in the box. His first touch is poor though, allowing Tono to rush off his line and claim it.
88 minCHANCE! Vallecano quickly make their way back down the other end, forcing a corner. Suarez fails to clear it, leaving Trashorras to drive the ball towards the bottom corner, but his finish is just wide of the left upright.
90 minCHANCE! It just hasn't been Deulofeu's night since he came off the bench! The young winger is part of a three-man break forward for Sevilla, with Bacca and Suarez both to his left. He takes the shot on himself though as Tono comes out to meet him, allowing the keeper to boot it clear. If he's squared that to Bacca, the striker would have been looking at an empty net.
90+1 minThere are just two minutes of stoppage time to be played, but Vallecano aren't backing off, with a Manucho effort taking a looping deflection, but Rico just gets his fingertips to it.
90+2 minFULL TIME: Sevilla 2-0 Rayo Vallecano
7.51pmSo, the first-half goals prove enough for Sevilla to move above Valencia into the final Champions League spot, however temporarily that may be. They may be disappointed not to have scored more in a dominant first half, but will also count themselves lucky not to have let Vallecano back into the match in the second half.
7.53pmIf you want some more action from La Liga this evening, Real Madrid will be kicking off in a few minutes time in their match against Celta Vigo. Join out live commentary from that fixture here.
7.55pmThat's all from this match, but if you can't stay around for Real's match, don't forget to join us again tomorrow, when Valencia will be hoping to move back in front of Sevilla when they host Granada. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.
