Sevilla FC – Oviedo: calm and happiness come from victory at Nervión

These weeks have not been easy for Almeyda. The defeat in the derby still leaves consequences and not only because of this second match of suspension that Isaac Romero will have to serve and which diminishes the coach even more. To the absence of Lebrijano is added that of Peque, who completes a cycle of warnings, and also a medical report that hardly improves with the return of Juanlu, but which added the significant loss of Azpilicueta to relevant absences such as those of Marcao or Suazo.

With this panorama, The Argentinian turned the situation around. By trying with this five-man defense which gave them greater solidity at Mestalla, but also with four in defense to try to improve the offensive phase of the team, an issue that seems fundamental to try to defeat Oviedo. The general theory returns to the stage, although Nervión examines any technical decision in detail. Place Cardoso next to Gudelj and Castrín or bet on a higher element so that the team finds more attractive football.

With its three best midfielders available – Mendy, Agoumé and Sow –, Sevilla will try to find this pressure in the rival peloton which gave them good results in his best moments of the season. Recover the ball in advanced zones to quickly reach the rival zone and accumulate pawns in attack, with The Chilean Alexis takes advantage of the spaces that Akor Adams must generate. The striker and Ejuke will leave with Nigeria for the African Cup as soon as the match ends, so Almeyda will try to take advantage of the Nigerians’ latest work.

Beating Oviedo would give Sevilla a lot of confidence. Reaching 20 points with three games remaining in the first round would keep Nervión’s players in a quiet zone of the table and without needing to look in the rearview mirror. Winning again at home would also be the best way to definitively turn the page on the derby and face the future with more optimism. The coach’s message would be reinforced before Januarya date set by the entity to seek signings that will help raise the level of the team, although this will also involve necessary departures to make room in the squad. A victory that allows us to focus on the sport and put aside all those comments about a possible sale that are causing so much concern in Seville, just on the eve of the General Meeting of Shareholders.

To get these three points, Sevilla will have to beat this Oviedo which does not know victory with Luis Carrión on the bench. The Barcelonan had four draws and three defeats, he replaced Veljko Paunovic but failed to give this repulsive effect to the Oviedo team. Even if the coach wanted to give the team more order, the lack of goals has penalized him in recent weeks. Oviedo has only accumulated three goals since Carrión’s arrivaland all three participated in the same match against Girona (3-3). Having nothing left in the last five matches, the coach is looking for variations to improve this aspect which is so important for his team.

Santi Cazorla will not come to Nervión. The historic footballer, emblem and legend of this return of Oviedo to the Primera, was one of those expelled the day before – Viñas is also absent for this reason –, so the supporters of Seville will not be able to honor the Asturian as they did in all areas in Spain. An absence that leaves Carrión without his most creative footballer in midfield and that will force him to try alternatives that strengthen the overflow he has on the wings with Hassan and Ilyas Chaira.

Sevilla aren’t here for too many tributes either, more than you might think, at least until they get that win that puts 20 points in the box. Confidence in the technical staff remains absolute on the part of the managerswho appreciate the work that Almeyda has carried out with deficient staff. Of course, in football it’s all about winning, a problem Sevilla have struggled with over the past two months and which has thwarted the team’s promising start. Even the good atmosphere that was breathed this year at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where the quarrels were left aside, did not allow Sevilla to improve their record at home, where they barely managed two victories in seven games.

Achieving the third victory is the challenge launched in the last match of the year in Nervión. Three points which bring happiness to Sévillismo and restore calm to the locker room. There is no excuse, not even for the large number of casualties which required Almeyda to have a large representation of the youth team at the call.Anything that doesn’t beat Oviedo will set off the alarmafter teams from the lower zone like Girona or Mallorca won that day. In order not to look back, Sevilla needs to regain sensations through victory, whether with four or five defenders.