Ben Yedder hat-trick eases Sevilla past Maribor

French forward Wissam Ben Yedder hit a hat-trick as Sevilla soared to the top of Champions League Group E by cruising to a 3-0 win over Slovenian champions Maribor on Tuesday.

Ben Yedder produced clinical finishes from close range twice in 11 first-half minutes to put the hosts well on course for victory before completing his hat-trick with a penalty seven minutes from time.

Liverpool's 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow sees the Spaniards lead the group with four points to Liverpool and Spartak's two.

"It was a convincing win," Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo told BeIN Sports Spain.

"We used the ball well and accelerated at the right time.

"In the second-half we had even more penetration and won the game with a lot of authority."

Ben Yedder's inclusion was one of eight changes made by Berizzo from Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid.

And Sevilla carried much more of a potent threat in the final third with he and Joaquin Correa recalled up front.

The two combined for the opening goal when Correa wonderful solo run and cut-back was slotted home at the near post by Ben Yedder.

A flowing team move saw Sevilla double their advantage seven minutes before the break as Ben Yedder latched onto Franco Vazquez's through ball inside the area before firing with unerring accuracy in off the far post.

Sevilla were happy to take the sting out of the game after the break with an important three points assured.

However, Ben Yedder got the chance to take his Champions League tally to six in four games this season when Sebastien Corchia was felled inside the area.

And the striker didn't disappoint by slotting low into Jasmin Handanovic's bottom left-hand corner.

source: AFP