Slick Sevilla sweep past dogged Standard

• Unbeaten Sevilla maintain two-point lead atop Group G
• The holders also denied by the woodwork in each half
• Sevilla claim sixth successive home win in all competitions
• Standard suffer fourth loss in five away games in UEFA Europa League group phase
• Next games: Feyenoord v Sevilla, Rijeka v Standard Liège (27 November)

Goals from Kevin Gameiro, José Antonio Reyes and substitute Carlos Bacca secured Sevilla FC a 3-1 Group G win as the UEFA Europa League holders overcame stiff resistance from visitors R. Standard de Liège.

Gameiro opened the scoring, but the home side's lead was cancelled out by a deflected free-kick from Paul-José Mpoku, with Sevilla ultimately indebted to a dazzling effort from José Antonio Reyes just before the break. Substitute Carlos Bacca iced the cake with a scrambled third late on.

Sevilla and Standard both began with impressive gusto, yet it was the Spanish hosts who had the more enviable cutting edge. It took 19 minutes for the holders to surge in front, Gerard Deulofeu's corner flicked on by Stéphane Mbia and nodded in by Gameiro.

The hosts continued to press, though it was Standard who next drew blood, Mpoku wrong-footing Beto with a deflected free-kick. Sevilla skipper Reyes drove his side on, though, striking the post with another set piece before, on 41 minutes, slotting in after a slick exchange with Denis Suárez and Diogo Figueiras.

When Grzegorz Krychowiak forced a good save from Yohann Thuram-Ulien and Suárez thumped a header against the bar, it looked as if Sevilla would have to settle for 2-1 – until Bacca's late effort.