Game Thread: Sevilla - Málaga

CelticKing · Oct 24, 2008

Game Thread: Sevilla - Málaga

VS

What: La Liga BBVA, Matchday 8
Who: Sevilla (2nd, 17pts) vs Málaga (7th, 10pts)
When: Sunday 26 October, 17.00 CET
Where: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla

Málaga might have won their last three games in La Liga but on Sunday they face a Sevilla side who are undefeated so far this season and in confident mood, having not even conceded in their last eight games in all competitions. Manolo Jiménez has instilled a brilliant work ethic into an exciting team and if the visitors are to take anything from this sure to be fiery derby match, they will have to be at their best…

Super Sevilla

Sevilla might not have qualified for the Champions League last season but at the rate they are going they will have secured a ticket back to the elite competition way before this campaign is over. Undefeated in the league and with only two draws to their name they have certainly triumphed over adversity so far, with key squad losses over the summer followed by a string of injuries to important players seemingly of no concern to the Andalucian side.

Freddy Kanouté, Luis Fabiano Arouna Koné, Diego Capel and Javier Chevantón have all been injured for the last few games but even without them Sevilla have found ways to win and that has signalled them out as title contenders this year. Against Almer?*a last weekend they only had one fit recognised striker in Lautaro Acosta but with a midfield bulging with class they ran out winners and it was the same story against Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

On that occasion Acosta even had to be taken off due to injury but Sevilla just keep proving the doubters wrong and they are a force to be reckoned with both in Spain and in Europe. When the big guns do return this side is going to unleash on someone and whilst Málaga will not have to worry about the likes of Kanouté or Koné this weekend they may well have to contend with Fabiano. The Brazilian striker has been battling to recover his fitness and after been left out of the side in the UEFA Cup he might well feature on Sunday to cause a headache for Antonio Tapia.

Tapia’s Turnaround

Not that the Málaga coach will not have enough on his plate having to develop tactics capable of stopping the winning machine that is Sevilla at the moment. That said, the visitors do come to the Sánchez Pizjuán this Sunday in a rich vein of form themselves, especially bearing in mind how badly they started the season. A 4-0 hammering by Atlético Madrid followed by two more losses in three matches and it seemed as though Los Boquerones might be relegated by Christmas. However, somehow they have turned it around and after dishing out their own 4-0 thrashing to Recreativo they then went on to beat Getafe last weekend and might well fancy their chances of picking up something here.

After Sevilla against Real Betis this is the biggest derby in Andalusia and it would be no surprise to see Málaga either play with two upfront or just the one, in a bid to try and pack the midfield. That tactic could well be wasted against Sevilla, bearing in mind the quality of their midfield players, and it would be a surprise if Tapia does not start with two strikers to try and beat Andrés Palop. For the hosts it will more than likely be the same side that played Stuttgart apart from Acosta who is now out for three weeks, which will open the door for Fabiano to start for only the fifth time in the league this season.

The last time these two teams met in the league was back in the 2005/06 season when Málaga were relegated from La Primera and on that occasion they were beaten twice by their Andalucian rivals. At home they went down 2-0 and at the Sánchez Pizjuán they were defeated 3-1, with Salva grabbing the only goal of the two matches for the island side.

FORM GUIDE

Sevilla

Oct 23 Sevilla 2-0 Stuttgart (UEFA Cup)

Oct 19 Almer?*a 0-1 Sevilla (La Liga)

Oct 5 Sevilla 4-0 Athletic Bilbao (La Liga)

Oct 2 Salzburg 0-2 Sevilla (UEFA Cup Qualifying)

Sep 28 Atlético Madrid 0-1 Sevilla (La Liga)

Málaga

Oct 19 Málaga 2-1 Getafe (La Liga)

Oct 5 Recreativo 0-4 Málaga (La Liga)

Sep 28 Málaga 2-1 Valladolid (La Liga)

Sep 25 Málaga 0-2 Valencia (La Liga)

Sep 21 Almer?*a 1-0 Málaga (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla

Luis Fabiano looks as though he will recover to play a part in this match after missing out against Stuttgart but Freddy Kanouté is definitely out, as are Javier Chevantón and Arouna Koné. That means Jiménez could start with Fabiano upfront but Lautaro Acosta will not play after he was taken off against Stuttgart after less than half an hour.

Diego Capel is still out injured but Renato is now fit and along with Adriano, Enzo Maresca, Jesus Navas and Aldo Duscher should make up the midfield but Romaric may well fit in somewhere too.

Probable Line-Up (4-3-2-1): Palop – Konko, Escudé, Prieto, Navarro – Duscher, Maresca, Romaric – Navas, Adriano - Fabiano

Málaga

Neither Duda or Lolo will play a part in this match as both players are currently on loan from Sevilla and Málaga have said they will not pay the fee to remove the clause forbidding them to play their parent club.

Along with the duo Salva will miss out again as he has picked up an injury, as will José Manuel González Cheli and Adriano Rossato, both of whom are suffering from inconveniences. Tapia will probably stick with the same formation that he has nearly all season though but more than likely without Adrián who is a doubt and maybe with Albert Luque returning as an attacking midfielder in place of Duda, if he is fit.

Probable Line-Up (4-3-2-1): Arnau - Gamez, Robson, Rosário, Calleja - Ángel, Nacho, Apono - Eliseu, Baha - Luque

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sevilla

Luis Fabiano should return to the Sevilla side after missing out against Stuttgart and whilst he hasn’t been especially missed by the looks of things his return will be a huge boost. It will allow the manager to better utilise his midfield players and the Brazilian is a natural goal-scorer, as he has proven in the past. Málaga will certainly have their work cut out dealing with him and he might well be the key to breaking down a stubborn defence.

Málaga

Nabil Baha was the second highest scorer at Málaga last year and whilst it has taken him some time to get going this season he now has 2 goals in 2 games and will be hungry for more. The Moroccan striker should benefit from the new found confidence circulating the team and he will be vital on Sunday if Málaga are to take anything home from Sevilla.
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Claud · Oct 24, 2008

2-0 Sevilla

CelticKing · Oct 24, 2008

Sevilla 3 - 1 Malaga

Easy game for Sevilla I think.

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