Five points and six places in the standings separate Sevilla and Betis ahead of the 109th derby in the Primera Division. A match in which numbers are usually put aside in the face of that emotional battle that always involves a rivalry duel. … The analysis in the preview cannot ignore the trajectory of both teams, in a tournament in which they had previously started with different final goals, but always with the derby marked in the calendar of all fans from the moment their dates were known.
A draw in La Cartuja against Girona (1-1) and a narrow defeat at the RCDE Stadium against Espanyol (2-1) are the results with which Betis and Sevilla finished the first third of the competition as a prelude to the rivalry duel. Two setbacks left different feelings, but they will be put aside when the ball starts rolling at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
The path of the two teams day after day
It was played between
The days
The second and
third
Source: Special detail / Drawing: A. MONTES / ABC SEVILLA
path of the two teams,
Day after day
It was played between
The days
The second and
third
Source: Special detail / Drawing: A. MONTES / ABC SEVILLA
Sevilla will arrive with two unknowns in the starting lineup, after the injuries of Suazo and Ruben Vargas, two of the indisputable players for Matias Almeida, and the unknowns with Alexis Sanchez, Azpilicueta or Isaac Romero, among the cotton in recent weeks; Betis also has options open, after Anthony’s withdrawal was confirmed due to suspension and Lo Celso is doubtful due to muscle pain that kept him out of the confrontation against Utrecht. A mystery for Matias Almeida and Manuel Pellegrini, who will also have a lot at stake on a personal level. The first derby for the Argentine coach, who experienced it bitterly as a player, and the sixth in Nervion for the Chilean, who never won as a visitor.
Seville move
Sitting in 11th place with 16 points, Sevilla have had an acceptable first spell of the season. The two successive victories over Rayo Vallecano (0-1) and, above all, the defeat against Barcelona in Nervion (4-1), raised the illusion of Sevilla, but the clash with reality came with the subsequent three successive defeats against Mallorca (1-3), Real Sociedad (2-1), and Atletico Madrid (3-0). This descent to the ground for the Sevilla team reaffirmed the message of the football director, Antonio Cordon, who set the goal of ending the shift as quickly as possible, which means a message of calm and confidence towards the coach, who was able to restore calm by winning over Osasuna before the last break in the league.
Specifically, Almeida continues to search for the balance he wants for Sevilla. “We did not reach the midfield,” repeats the Argentine, with a cog in his performance. Five wins, like Betis, but seven defeats show the inconsistency of the Sevilla team, which has only recorded one draw in its first 13 matches. Sevilla also does not offer a very reliable version at home. The Sevilla team achieved two victories against Barcelona and Osasuna, a draw against Elche, and three defeats against Getafe, Villarreal and Mallorca. But the visit to Espanyol, despite the final defeat, confirmed the identity that Almeida imprinted on the Seville club. Stifling pressure, great energy in duels and even good football with Pique as playmaker strengthened a team that was once again punished by setbacks in the form of injuries, after the loss of Januzaj, Vargas and Suazo, despite the return of Azpilicueta and Isaac.
Betis equalizer
Betis Pellegrini is not at his best. Winning the last five matches in the Spanish League, with two consecutive draws against Valencia and Girona, has raised doubts about Pellegrini’s team, which is still in fifth place but fell behind in the Champions League battle that it intended to wage against Villarreal. The green and white team doesn’t lose much – only Athletic and Atletico Madrid have beaten them so far, both in La Cartuja – but numerous draws have taken them out of the battle for the top spot. After the rise that came after three consecutive victories against Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Espanyol, Betic’s team must return to the winning path.
If Betis have not been a great team collectively so far this season, the individual performances have been positive from players like Anthony, Abdi or Cucho Hernandez, who have regressed recently. Specifically, the three most outstanding players in attack were left almost without substitutes, either due to the limited contributions of Riquelme and Lo Celso or because little was expected from other players such as Bakambu, the most used in the Europa League, or Chimi Avila. Pellegrini needs to get the best version of his key players back, an issue where Isco’s return should help. The Verdeblancos cling to the leadership of their captain to raise the level of the Betic team once again, which faces the first third of the competition after the accumulation of lights and shadows.