Preview: Sevilla – Sporting Gijón

CelticKing · Sep 12, 2008

Preview: Sevilla – Sporting Gijón

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What: La Liga Matchday 2
Who: Sevilla v Sporting Gijón
When: Saturday, September 13 (22:00 CET)
Where: Estadio Ramon Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla, Andalusia

Sevilla are looking to rack up their first win of the season. After being held in Santander, somewhat against the odds, Manuel Jimenez has had to prepare for Sporting amid feverish discussion about all things Diego Capel in the last 2 weeks.

When Los Blanquirrojos left El Sardinero with a point, it seemed like an acceptable start to the season what with Racing Santander the unexpected high flyers last term, and with a number of new faces at Sevilla still needing to settle in after a very busy summer. Everyone expected the visitors to take the points, perhaps incorrectly, but it also seems the players and club might have done too.

Julien Escude, Renato and Enzo Maresca have all spoke in hindsight about the Matchday 1 encounter in view of Sporting and the season ahead, intimating that expectations are perhaps a little high, while tactically the team still has a way go. While Escude suggested Sevilla's excellent pre-season may have told an untrue story, Maresca in particular spoke of a the need for a 'Plan B'. It refers to an approach that differs form Sevilla's traditional buccaneering style, to be used when up against teams that sit back, while Renato discussed the need for Sevilla to keep on attacking, even when comfortably dominating possession (especially away from home), in essence to try and establish a clear lead and goal cushion, ruling out the possibility of any last minute sucker punches.

Whatever the tactical mix required, we're likely to see a typically slick, full-blooded performance from the Andalusian outfit on Saturday night. The match itself has received little attention since the opening encounter or Spain's exploits over the last week. Rather, it's all been about one man...

Courting Capel

It all started with the Santander match, when somewhat surprisingly Adriano slotted in on the left flank and not Diego Capel. In truth, there was always a good chance this would happen. This season, Sevilla have two options in that one position, and both are top quality. Before, Adriano would just as often slot in as an adventurous left back, but with Fernando Navarro acquired over the summer and plenty of versatility in the squad across the defence, that area of the field has plenty of cover. What's more, Adriano is a slightly more measured performer than the buccaneering blonde tornado, and Jimenez could have deemed him a better option in an opening fixture that was a real banana skin.

Yet, whatever the reason (or reasons) for his omission, stories soon circulated of a possible transfer before the Monday September 1st closing date, hence the need to avoid any injury infliction over the prior weekend.

Technical director and recruiter extraordinaire Monchi dismissed the questions as 'perverted'. Since then, all we have heard is attack and defence and discussion concerning Capel's performances for Spain over the international break. It kicked-off in somewhat controversial style with motor-mouth John Cruyff saying the all-action winger needs to become a team player, and that his individualistic tendencies impacted negatively on the European Champions.

None of this seems to have affected Capel, which is hardly surprising, and we'll probably see a typically full-blooded performance from one of Sevilla's chief entertainers, as it seems he is sure to figure this weekend. Indeed, the hosts may need it, and will hope he is in top shape. Fatigue could also be an issue for Luis Fabiano, Squillaci, Dragutinovic, Navarro and Mosquera, who were all on international duty.

For the visitors, it could be an intimidating night, and doubts have probably already crept in after the home defeat to Getafe. Coach Manuel Preciado has a job on his hands, but there a number of changes he can make that could strengthen his side, not least by involving some of the new arrivals.

To make matters worse though, Sporting hardly announced their eventual return to Spain's top flight in respectable fashion, though it was memorable, for all the wrong reasons. The racist abuse suffered by Getafe's Ecuadorian forward Joffre Guerron was not the best way for the club to reappear under the very public glare of La Liga, and Sporting may have already lost any burgeoning allegiences form neutral followers for that reason alone.

All in all, against Gijon we should see the Sevilla persona of 08/09, characterised by very adventurous wing play form the likes of Capel and Jesus Navas. The latter has already confirmed a new licence to bomb forward more than ever, now enjoying the support of the less adventurous Konko behind him instead, instead of the ultra-attacking of Dani Alves.

To finish on a comic note, Sevilla misfit Khalid Boulahrouz recently criticised the club, having now moved on to Stuttgart. 'Khalid the Cannibal' said everything at Sevilla moved too slowly, and there was a lack of urgency. While managing to show everyone he had quite clearly has never been to Spain before, the ex-Chelsea defender also managed to described quite succinctly, and quite by accident, his typical performance in the Blanquirrojo jersey. Khalid, we wish you well!

FORM GUIDE

Sevilla

DREW 1-1 (A) Racing Santander (31 Aug - La Liga)
WON 2-0 (H) Malaga (23 Aug - Friendly)
WON 3-0 (A) Cadiz (16 Aug - Friendly)
WON 2-0 (H) Villarreal (15 Aug - Friendly)
DREW 1-1 (N) Arsenal – (9 Aug - Friendly)

Sporting Gijon

LOST 2-1 (A) Getafe (31 Aug - La Liga)
DREW (H) 2-2 Cruz Azul (19 Aug - Friendly)
DREW (H) 3-3 Atlético Madrid (18 Aug - Friendly)
DREW 2-2 (H) Valladolid (16 Aug - Friendly)
WON 2-0 (A) Pontevedra (13 Aug - Friendly)

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla

Options available to Jimenez depend upon how jet lagged and jaded all the international returnees are. Fitness pending, of all of them Diego Capel is most likely to break into the team, after losing out to Adriano in Santander. Similarly, versatile Serbia defender Dragutinovic will be eyeing up Prieto’s spot at centre back, while Duscher will also be looking to make his first start.

Brazilian midfielder Renato is fit again, but will likely start from the bench. Konko and Kanoute picked up knocks in Santander, but should be fine to return.

Possible Starting XI: Palop - Konko, Squillaci, Dragutinovic/Prieto, Fernando Navarro - Jesus Navas, Romaric, Maresca/Duscher, Diego Capel/Adriano - Kanoute, Luis Fabiano

Sporting Gijon

Striker Mate Bilic would have been disappointed to miss out against Getafe, and could well take up a lone striker role in Andalusia replacing Barral. New signing Diego Camacho’s niggling injury saw him sit out the opener altogether, but he should be an option this weekend.

Other new arrivals Jurgen Colin and Jose Maldonado, who can play up front or wide, watched from the bench on Matchday 1, and both could be in line for some debut action. Arriving from Atletico along with Camacho, Carmelo came on last weekend and could force his way into the mix.

Possible Starting XI: Sanchez – Colin/Sastre, Torre, Canella, Soto – Mateo/Carmelo, Matabuena, Castro, Michel, Maldonado/Pedro - Bilic

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sevilla: All eyes and journalistic pens - at least in Spain - were on Diego Capel in the past week, and they will be again if the inimitable winger gets the nod from Jimenez. A rough diamond for sure, but so entertaining to watch. Raw but with quality in abundance, and buckets of potential.

Sporting: Diego Castro had a good game in the Getafe defeat, scoring a goal and setting up a few chances for his team mates. A mainstay in the Sporting midfield along with Michel, and will be looking to fend off competition from the new arrivals
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M Two One · Sep 12, 2008

Sporting Gijón are going to have a rough season.

Sevilla 2 : 0 Gijón

La Bomba · Sep 12, 2008

Sporting Gijón will be the Almeria of last season. They wont win this game, but they will surprise some people this season.

CelticKing · Sep 12, 2008

Sevilla 2 - 0 Sportin Gijon

An easy game for Sevilla IMO.

Claud · Sep 13, 2008

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Preview: Sevilla – Sporting Gijón

CelticKing The Green Monster

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Preview: Sevilla – Sporting Gijón

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CelticKing The Green Monster

M Two One Halló Veröld!

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