Opinion

En-Nesyri’s Sevilla red card could give Mir a Champions League chance to shine

Sevilla got their Champions League campaign underway against RB Salzburg last night, and Rafa Mir was involved after joining from Wolves in the summer.

They drew 1-1 with the Austrian outfit in an entertaining game at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

Their first-choice striker Youssef En-Nesyri was sent off early in the second half.

That could well hand former Wolves striker Mir an opportunity to shine on European football’s biggest stage.

Sevilla v Salzburg - UEFA Champions League
Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

He came off the bench in the second period last night, replacing Ivan Rakitic with 25 minutes remaining.

And with En-Nesyri suspended for the next match, Mir could get selected from the start to lead the line next time around.

Sevilla travel to Germany to face Wolfsburg in the next round of matches.

That won’t be an easy game, but Mir may get an opportunity to make the difference.

Sevilla FC v RB Salzburg: Group G - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Thriller in Sevilla

The first half of last night’s game – which Mir watched from the substitutes bench – was crazy.

There were four first half penalties awarded, three of them to Salzburg, who missed two of them.

This writer has never seen anything like it, and perhaps Sevilla and Mir will be hoping for a more controlled, disciplined performance next time around.