Real Madrid's 4-1 rout of Sevilla built on open play as set pieces barely registered

Real Madrid beat Sevilla 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, 18 October, yet the margin of victory owed almost nothing to dead-ball situations. Kylian Mbappé’s penalty was the only set-piece-related goal of the afternoon, with neither side converting from a delivered restart.

The figures come from a set-piece analysis published by Managing Madrid and highlight just how little the restarts shaped the scoreline. Sevilla recorded 1.17 non-penalty expected goals (npxG) across the match but generated only 0.07 npxG from six attacking restarts. Madrid’s overall npxG stood at 1.22, yet their seven restarts — six free kicks and one corner — produced a single shot: Endrick’s effort from Arda Güler’s corner shortly after half-time, valued at just 0.03 npxG.

Five of Madrid’s seven restarts came after they had already taken the lead, and Güler was responsible for three of the deliveries. Madrid’s opponents, by contrast, had three free kicks, two corners and a throw-in delivered into the box, with two of those leading to attempts on goal.

Sevilla’s best opportunity from a restart arrived in the 73rd minute, when Manu Bueno met Gabriel Suazo’s free kick and sent his effort wide — a chance valued at 0.06 npxG. Thibaut Courtois claimed two of Sevilla’s deliveries, while Madrid won first contact on three more. At the other end, Sevilla won first contact on two of Madrid’s seven deliveries, and goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos dealt with one.

The analysis is a narrow statistical lens rather than a full account of how Madrid constructed their four goals. Mbappé scored twice on the day, with Yan Diomande adding the fourth, according to AFP.

The result keeps Madrid in the title race but leaves them six points behind Barcelona, who beat Real Betis on the same weekend. The two sides are scheduled to meet at Camp Nou on Sunday, 25 October, with Barcelona’s form lending the Clásico immediate table significance.