SEVILLA, Spain (Interstat) — Vinícius Júnior scored in the 15th minute and Real Madrid held on for a 1-0 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in the La Liga opener for both sides.

The goal, the only one of the match, came from a buildup that involved assists from four different players. Nemanja Gudelj started the sequence with a pass to Alexis Sánchez, who relayed to Lucien Agoume before Juanlu’s final feed to Vinícius Júnior, the substitute forward, who finished from close range past Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović.

Real Madrid improved to 1-0 in league play and across all competitions, while Sevilla fell to 0-1 in both categories.

The first half was largely controlled by Real Madrid, who dictated possession and created several chances. Karim Benzema forced a save from Dmitrović in the 30th minute, and Rodrygo struck the crossbar from outside the box in the 40th minute. Sevilla’s best first-half chance came from a counterattack led by Jesús Navas, whose cross was cleared by Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal just before the half-hour mark.

Sevilla increased the pressure after halftime, pushing forward in search of an equalizer. Forward Youssef En-Nesyri tested Thibaut Courtois with a header in the 70th minute that the Belgian goalkeeper saved low to his left. Midfielder Ivan Rakitić had a free kick sail just over the bar in the 75th minute. Sevilla’s attempts grew more desperate as the half wore on, but Real Madrid’s defense, anchored by Éder Militão and David Alaba, remained resolute.

The match was marked by a series of bookings. Sevilla’s Nemanja Gudelj received a yellow card in the 48th minute for a late tackle on Luka Modrić. Alexis Sánchez was cautioned in the 80th minute for a tactical foul on Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde. Defender Juanlu was shown a yellow card in the 84th minute for dissent after arguing a foul call. In the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, Lucien Agoume was booked for a reckless challenge on Vinícius Júnior, which also drew the ire of the Real Madrid bench.

Sevilla finished with four yellow cards, while Real Madrid went unbooked. The visitors committed fewer fouls overall and maintained discipline throughout the physical contest.

The stadium, which seats more than 43,000, was filled with a mix of home supporters and traveling Real Madrid fans. The atmosphere remained intense despite the lack of goals for the home side, with chants and echoes throughout the match.

Real Madrid’s victory extended their strong record against Sevilla at the Sánchez Pizjuán. The win also provided an early boost for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, which is aiming to reclaim the league title after finishing second in the previous campaign.

Sevilla, under new management, showed signs of promise in midfield but lacked a cutting edge in the final third. The home side registered only three shots on target, with Courtois making two saves in the second half. Vinícius Júnior’s goal was his first of the season and a positive sign for the Brazilian, whose movement off the ball and ability to finish in tight spaces proved decisive.

The match also featured the return of several players from injury, including Real Madrid’s Militão, who completed the full 90 minutes after a long layoff. Substitutions for both teams did not alter the rhythm of the game, with Sevilla introducing forward Rafa Mir in the 65th minute and Real Madrid bringing on Eduardo Camavinga late to shore up midfield.

Sevilla’s defensive structure held firm for most of the half, but the early concession proved insurmountable. Real Madrid’s compact shape after the goal limited Sevilla’s ability to penetrate through the middle, forcing crosses that were dealt with by the visitors’ back line. Courtois’ only other save came from a long-range effort by Oliver Torres in the 82nd minute.

The result marked the third consecutive league win for Real Madrid at Sevilla’s home ground. The defeat left Sevilla searching for answers in attack ahead of their next league fixture.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Real Madrid 2, Sevilla 1. Interstat’s ELO system gave Real Madrid an 88.10 percent probability of winning.