Vying with the best
Gritty Sevilla keep impressing to stay near the top in Spain
MADRID: Sevilla’s ambitious hopes of becoming a La Liga contender are beginning to materialise.
With an inspired team not afraid of confronting the powerhouses, Sevilla have shown thet are ready to take the next step and seriously challenge Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
One game before the halfway mark in the Spanish League, the squad revitalised by coach Jorge Sampaoli is only a point behind leader Real, a team they defeated in impressive fashion on Sunday.
The come-from-behind 2-1 win came thanks to another gritty performance by Sampaoli’s team who
We had three difficult matches against Real Madrid and we were superiorp in two of them. Jorge Sampaoli
have has mixed high-intensity defence and a fast-paced attack to impose their style against opponents no matter how strong they are.
“A victory in a game like this allows us to remain optimistic and believe that this team can continue this run if we maintain this same determination,” Sampaoli said. “Time will tell if we can succeed.” Sevilla’s win halted Real’s 40-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.
Sevilla had already come close to a victory midweek in the King’s Cup but it conceded two late goals in a 3-3 draw that led to their elimination. They lost the first leg the week before in Madrid 3-0.
“We had three difficult matches against Real Madrid and we were superior in two of them,” Sampaoli said. “We were able to beat a team that were unbeaten.”
Sevilla this season also defeated Atletico 1-0, drew at fifth-place Villarreal 0-0 and routed sixthplaced Real Sociedad 4-0.
They lost 2-1 to Barcelona in an encouraging display.
They have won six of their last seven league games including four in a row. In front of its diehard fans at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium, Sevilla has won eight of its nine games.
They lost the European Super Cup title to Real in extra time last year and this season advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League where they will face Leicester in the last 16.
Sevilla have thrived in the lower-tiered Europa League, winning three straight titles, but their last Spanish League trophy was in 1946. The last time they finished second was in 1957.
Sampaoli, the Argentine coach who arrived with high expectations this season, has made a mark by successfully rotating players.
Despite not having the same budget as Real or Barcelona, he has been able to make the most out of the squad put together by renowned sports director Ramon “Monchi” Rodriguez.
But despite the recent success and all the hype surrounding Sevilla, president Jose Castro is trying to keep the club grounded.
“We are excited, we are one point behind Real and one ahead of Barcelona,” Castro said.
“We will try to win it all but the goal is to secure a spot in the Champions League.
“The Spanish League is for other teams with a bigger budget.”