Goals in either half ensured that new Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui started life with a victory on Sunday evening in a 2-0 win away to Espanyol. 

The former Real Madrid and Spain coach is looking revive his managerial career in the south of Spain and would have been worried when Espanyol midfielder Matías Vargas took aim just before the half-hour mark. Thankfully Tomáš Vaclík was on hand to palm the ball away. 

With forty-three minutes on the clock, Sergio Reguilón broke the deadlock for the visitors. Striker Luuk de Jong saw his header expertly saved on the line by Lopes before the clearance rebounded off the crossbar. Reguilón was hand to pass the ball into the net, and hand Sevilla the lead before the break. 

Lopetegui would have been worried when the referee pointed to the penalty spot for an alleged foul on Espanyol striker Facundo Ferreyra. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overruled after the ball came off the arm of  Ferreyra much to the confusion of the home fans. 

With four minutes left in the contest, Sevilla wrapped up all three points thanks to Nolito who evaded two challenges to drive the ball into the bottom corner and complete a memorable opening day for Lopetegui.