Sevilla FC continued their preseason preparation with a solid 2-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen in an international club friendly on August 1, 2026. The Dutch and Spanish clubs met in a competitive summer test, and it was La Liga's Europa League specialists who came out on top, demonstrating their superiority in the opening hour before NEC made it a more tense finish. The win provides a boost for Sevilla as they build toward the new campaign.

Match summary

Sevilla controlled much of the first half, enjoying the majority of possession and creating the clearer chances. Their first goal arrived from a familiar source — a well-rehearsed move from another of their attacking players, who found space on the edge of the area and fired a low shot into the corner. NEC Nijmegen struggled to cope with Sevilla's passing rhythm, particularly down the flanks, where the Spanish team's full-backs constantly overlapped.

Sevilla doubled their advantage shortly after the interval when a swift counter-attack caught NEC on the back foot. A precise through-ball split the defensive line, and Sevilla's forward coolly rounded the goalkeeper to slot the ball into an empty net. At 2-0, the friendly seemed comfortably decided, but NEC showed character and pulled one back with 20 minutes remaining. A high-press forced an error in Sevilla's build-up play, and the Eredivisie side punished the mistake with a crisp finish.

Key moments

• Goal 1: Sevilla opened the scoring with a crisp strike from the edge of the box after a short-corner routine.
• Goal 2: A devastating counter-attack doubled their lead, with the striker finishing one-on-one.
• NEC's response: The home side's goal came from a Sevilla defensive error, setting up a tense final stretch.

Player performances

Sevilla's midfield engine was the standout performer, covering every blade of grass and dictating the tempo. His passing range caused problems for NEC all evening. The young winger who assisted the second goal also impressed, using his direct running to stretch the Dutch defense. For NEC Nijmegen, the goalkeeper made several impressive saves to prevent the margin from becoming greater, and their substitute striker brought added energy after coming on, leading the comeback attempt and scoring their goal.

What the match means

For Sevilla, this friendly was about gaining match sharpness and embedding tactical ideas. The team looked organized in the first hour but will be concerned by losing focus late on, allowing NEC back into the game. For NEC Nijmegen, the performance offered clues for their upcoming Eredivisie campaign. They competed for long stretches against a top-class European opponent and demonstrated that they can score goals as well. Although the result went Sevilla's way, the Dutch side will see plenty of positives from their second-half display.

As preseason continues, both clubs will take lessons from this fixture. Sevilla's ability to finish their opportunities and their overall superiority were clear, while NEC showed resilience. In a friendly designed to test the squad's depth, the 2-1 scoreline offered exactly the kind of demanding workout both coaching staffs were seeking.