Sevilla's Vidal typhoon flattens Fiorentina

• Aleix Vidal's first European goal puts Sevilla in front on 17 minutes
• The 25-year-old doubles Sevilla's advantage after the interval
• Mario Gomez, Matías Fernández and Mohamed Salah spurn Fiorentina chances
• Vidal sets up substitute Kevin Gameiro to make it three on the night
• Second leg at Stadio Artemi Franchi next Thursday

Aleix Vidal chose a great moment to score his first European goals as Sevilla FC took a commanding lead in their UEFA Europa League semi-final against ACF Fiorentina.

Vincenzo Montella's side had their opportunities in Spain but did not take them, something that Vidal could not be accused of, his free-ranging role as right-back allowing the 25-year-old to finish from a Carlos Bacca ball on 17 minutes and from a Vitolo delivery after the break, before supplying the killer pass for Kevin Gameiro to make it 3-0.

Fiorentina's Mario Gomez missed the target after being played in by former Real Betis Balompié man Joaquín in the fifth minute, yet it was to be Sevilla who ran the game. Bacca twice had a sight of goal before he set up the opener, steering the ball across the box for Vidal to clip inside Neto's right-hand post.

Matías Fernández might have responded from the restart, fluffing his finish after meeting a ball at the near post, and while the hosts kept pushing, Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico deserved praise for the way he blocked Mohamed Salah's shot at source after Nenad Tomović placed the ball at the Egyptian's feet on 25 minutes.

Unai Emery's team turned the screw again on 52 minutes, though, with Fiorentina caught dawdling in defence. Vitolo saw Vidal screaming unattended up the right and delivered the ball to his feet, and for the second time he caught Neto off balance, the keeper sent the wrong way as Vidal clipped inside his left-hand post.

Worse followed as Gameiro plundered a third within seconds of coming off the bench, guiding his effort into the net after Benoît Trémoulinas and Vidal tied knots in the Fiorentina defence.