Look who’s on top?
Sevilla looking like a strong title candidate in Spain
MADRID: While Barcelona and Real Madrid struggle, Sevilla have their attack clicking and their defence ticking.
The result is first place in the La Liga and a real hope that this could be Sevilla’s year to topple the powerhouses.
“We are taking advantage of our chances and we are playing with confidence,” Sevilla coach Pablo Machin said.
“We know what we are capable of.
“We will try to keep this going for as long as possible.”
Sevilla defeated Celta Vigo 2-1 on Sunday for their fourth straight league win, reaching 16 points from eight matches – one more than Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and two more than Real.
Barcelona are winless in four league games, while Real have not won – or scored – in four consecutive matches in all competitions.
Sevilla had a chance to win the title two years ago, staying among the contenders until late in the season.
But, as usual, Barcelona, Real and Atletico ran away in the end.
Last season was a disappointment.
Things started well but the team quickly dropped out of contention and finished seventh, 35 points off the lead and barely making it to the Europa League.
This season is different, so far. Sevilla have shown the type of attacking force that only Barcelona and Real have displayed in recent years.
The team outscored opponents 20-7 in their last six matches in all competitions, and already have 18 goals in the La Liga, only one fewer than Barcelona.
Real, who were outclassed by Sevilla 3-0 last month, have 12 goals.
Among Sevilla’s other routs this season was a 6-2 win at Levante.
In the Europa League, the team defeated Lithuanian club Zalgiris Vilnius 5-0 and Belgian club Standard Liege 5-1.
Part of the reason Sevilla’s attack is clicking is because of great perfor- mances by forwards Andre Silva and Wissam Ben Yedder.
Silva, the Portugal striker playing on a loan from AC Milan, has seven goals in the league, one fewer than scoring leader Cristhian Stuani of Girona.
Ben Yedder, a regular in the squad in past years, has five goals, only one fewer than Messi.
The man guiding the team’s potent attack is Machin, a former rightback who arrived in the offseason after three seasons with Girona, who he helped reach the First Division for the first time in their history.
Girona finished 10th in their topflight debut a year ago with an attack that scored 50 goals, among the top 10 in the league.
Sevilla lost some important players in the offseason but were able to remain competitive with signings like Silva.
Sports director Joaquin Caparros, who coached Sevilla from 20002005, also brought in defenders Sergi Gomez and Joris Gnagnon, midfielders Roque Mesa, Maxime Gonalons and Ibrahim Amadou, goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, and winger Aleix Vidal.
The departures included defender Clement Lenglet to Barcelona, Steven N’Zonzi to Roma, Joaquin Correa to Lazio and goalkeeper Sergio Rico to Fulham.
Sevilla impressed in their 3-0 rout of Real at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and now they will have another chance to show their worth when they take on Barcelona at Nou Camp after the international break.
Barcelona have drawn two straight at Nou Camp – 2-2 against Girona and 1-1 against Athletic Bilbao – but they have not lost to Sevilla at the venue since a Spanish King’s Cup match in 2010.
The last time Barcelona lost points to Sevilla at home was in 2011.
“The break will allow us to recover some of our gladiators,” Machin said.
“Hopefully everyone will be ready.”