It is still only October, and Sevilla have already suffered 2 losses in LaLiga, while it took 17 matchdays to incur as much last season.
Losses allow for teams to directly attempt to rectify the issues that led to those results. On the weekend against Eibar, Sevilla was undone in the 1st half after being ineffective with their possession as they struggled to advance the ball. The 2nd half display was much more ambitious, but our poor finishing was once again apparent as we were held scoreless for the 3rd straight game. Since De Jong’s 8th minute goal against Barcelona earlier this month, it has been precisely 352 minutes of football without a goal.
Óliver Torres: “I don’t think there is a scoring problem, the problem would be if we did not generate chances. We have high quality players up front and it is a matter of luck if the goal falls on our side.”
Julen Lopetegui: “We have looked for {the goal} in many ways and we have not been successful in the final ball. We cannot blame anything on the attitude of the team.”
Playing in their first ever Champions League campaign, Stade Rennais came away with a draw against Krasnodar last week, which has left all 4 teams level on 1 point each in Group E. With an already reputable youth academy, Rennes have a very promising squad, with many members having been promoted directly from the youth setup, including head coach Julien Stéphan. Currently sitting 3rd in the Ligue 1 table, the French side from Brittany suffered only their first loss of the season against Angers last Friday. There may be even more encouraging signs for Sevilla, as ex-Sevillista Steven Nzonzi has been ruled out through suspension by UEFA*. Equally disheartening for Rennes is the absence of 17-year old midfield prodigy, Eduardo Camavinga, who misses the trip to Nervión due to injury.
In dissimilar fate, Sevilla was given good news as their young French star, Jules Kounde, has been cleared of his COVID-19 diagnosis, and has rejoined his teammates in training on Tuesday. Summer signing Oussama Idrissi has also recovered from his muscular injury and has been training with the group since Monday. Are the wheels starting to turn in the right direction for the Rojiblancos?
And what we can attest to is that this Sevilla team hasn’t simply forgotten how to play football. As disappointing as the result was against Eibar, there were still many positives to pull from the match. We are still witnessing a Lopetegui team developing into a more attacking side, as it has already solidified key components of its structure. Perhaps in a post-Banega world, that development has been curtailed. What is promising is Sevilla’s tendency to display its best efforts against the more “challenging” sides, as seen in the matches against Bayern, Barcelona & Chelsea. Is it simply a question of mentality?
“If yesterday I was proud of this group, today I am much more so. There is always room on the victory car; where you have to ride is in the car of defeat, and there I will always be with my people, in front of everyone. The colors are mine, and these, I do not change them for anything.” - Monchi after the Eibar loss
#VamosMiSevilla
#NuncaTeRindas
