Chidera Ejuke remained on the bench as Sevilla took a big step toward securing their La Liga status with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Las Palmas on Tuesday night.
The result ended an eight-game winless streak for Sevilla and lifted them to 14th on the log with 41 points seven clear of the drop zone with just three matches left to play.
Their last win had come on March 9, also a narrow 1-0 victory, away at Real Sociedad.
Against Las Palmas; a must-win game for the struggling Andalusian side, they did just enough to secure all three points thanks to a 52nd-minute header from Álvaro Garcia Pascual.
The goal, his first for the club, came after Lucien Agoumé flicked on a free-kick to the back post, where Pascual guided the ball into the bottom corner.
Las Palmas offered little in response, and Sevilla almost doubled their lead when Suso’s dangerous free-kick forced goalkeeper Aarón Escandell into a vital save.
The visitors thought they had grabbed a late equaliser through Oli McBurnie, but his effort was ruled out for a foul by Sergi Cardona on Sevilla goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland in the build-up.
Ejuke, who has featured 24 times this season with two goals to his name, was an unused substitute on the night.
Since returning from a long injury layoff in January, he has struggled to regain his place in the starting XI.
During his absence, Sevilla signed Swiss winger Ruben Vargas, who has since cemented a regular role in the side.
Meanwhile, another Nigerian forward, Akor Adams, continues to recover from a thigh injury and was also unavailable for selection.
Sevilla’s win brings some much-needed relief and breathing space in their battle against relegation, with just a few games remaining in the campaign.
