And…we’re back! La Liga begins for Sevilla on Saturday at 3pm ET when Getafe comes to the Sánchez Pizjuan (the facade of which was recently praised by Sid Lowe–thanks Sid!) for an exciting-but-winnable start to the season. It begins!
We’ve covered Sevilla’s transfer season already, but how different will Getafe look from last season’s 11th place finishers? Importantly, last year’s top scorer Miku (12 goals in La Liga ’11-’12) has stuck around, so the team should be more or less as effective as they were last year (40 goals in 38 matches, so…not exactly setting the scoreboard on fire). The summer’s biggest arrivals are probably Levante’s MF Xavi Torres and Valencia’s backup GK Moyá, so the midfield may be a bit more robust, and goals may or may not be harder to score. The most significant departure is one-time Sevilla target CB Cata Díaz, so we may see a little rustiness in the back four for Negredo to exploit.
Not having seen much of the pre-season, it’s hard to guess how and who we’ll start, or playing styles or tactics. Having the same coach over the off-season adds a fair amount of continuity, it’s true, but it’s also true we finished 9th last season and are in search of better ideas and better results. So we’ll see at gametime.
It’s the first game of the year and my expectations and hopes are totally untainted by inconvenient things like reality, inability to score, or gaping holes in back, so of course I’ll be expecting a handy home victory with goals from Manu and Negredo (assists from Navas and Cicinho). I’ll do my best to enjoy these final hours before the harsh light of day by believing every single transfer will be perfect and key to our success this season, but what are your thoughts on our opening match? Let your predictions for formations, starters, and results be known now, and stop by at gametime to cheer the team to a resounding victory.
The 18 called up for the match:
Diego López, Palop; Cicinho, Fazio, Spahic, Botía, Cala, Fernando Navarro; Navas, Medel, Rakitic, Trochowski, Luna, Javi Hervás; Manu, Reyes, Babà y Negredo.
Any TV in US? Can’t find it anywhere except for streaming.
It’s on tv…if you have direct tv. But that’s the only way.
So yeah…streaming it is!
This is hilarious. I, too, am somehow fully expecting a dominating win today. You’ve laid out perfectly that unchecked optimism that always seems to be a part of opening day. This season we finish 3rd (I’ll believe for at least the next 7 hours)!
Wouldn’t be amazing if this season we didn’t spen every pre match thread pointing out the reasons we would lose?
Remember when we used to play games confident of success? That was awesome.
Alineación del #SevillaFC: Diego López; Cicinho, Fazio, Spahic, Navarro; Rakitic, Medel, Trochowski; Navas, Negredo y Reyes
1. Wow, thought Palop would start the season.
2. Interesting 4-3-3 choice. Should give room for Cicinho to get forward.
3. Really hope Reyes has a good year. Starting today.
VAMOS
3rd place here we come!
Stream?
GOL FAZIO 34′
Penalty Sevilla
NEGREDO GOLLLL!!! 39′
Yay!!!! Maybe a questionable pk? But reviews sound like we were the better team? 3 points!!!!
I thought it was a good call. Reyes clearly had position and got bumped from behind.
I thought the team played really well. Getafe had some chances, but Sevilla was in control most of the game. I hate that we couldn’t play the possession game at the end to close it out though.
The Navas, Cicinho combo was working well.
Nice! Glad to hear it.
It wasn’t a classic with the thermometer showing 39C in Nervion, and both Spahic and Fazio each making two grave defensive errors. Rakitic seemed to be omni present but also made a few unforced errors.
Cicinho and Navas function perfectly, and even better, Cicinho was incredible in defense, robbing possession from Getafe attacks, not by shirt pulling but by great skill, nobody got away with anything, Cicinho ruled, 10/10. Negredo, one of my favourite players, was off colour, he won two fouls and scored the penalty but his tricks all failed and you could see the frustration.
The biris marched outside the stadium before kick-off and later chanted into the entrances and the sound entered the stadium. Those inside responded with whistles but the atmosphere was nervous and spooky.
Apart from the penalty, the ref was anti Sevilla all the game.
Was Reyes lined up on the left?
Any timeline for perotti? Danger down both flanks would bring me back to the good ol days…
hi rene, Reyes was on the left and substitued by Manu at about 75 mins.
Perotti can’t be far off now, two more weeks of training should be enough, but I don’t have the exact information.
The Biris are very upset, what happened was that Del Nido was caught by microphone saying they were sons of bitches, that still hurts them – but they’re also angry about having three levels of security when they enter the stadium. The security are removing anything large like banners which the club used to provide them for free.
They’re also talking about ‘Loperization’, another matter.
Personally I’m a big fan of Del Nido, there’s lots of bad rumours but I’m convinced he’s a good guy and good for the club.
I’ll add that our jerseys are horrific this year. That nasty yellow inter wetten logo is absolutely terrible. I hope they’re giving us a lot of money. Anyone know the numbers?
I’d also love an update on the Biris Norte situation. I know they protested the game and were chanting outside the stadium… But what is the actual dispute?
Yeah, those are hideous. I was really thinking about getting one when we go back to Spain in December/January, but I may have to settle for some left over 2011/2012′s if they have them.
Ugly indeed…Umbro stuff is, for me, either spot on or horrible. Sadly, this year’s kit is horrible. Those collars…
Just heard that Perotti is injured again, his return is delayed by at least one week.
Ugh
I’m not liking these Aresenal rumors. I don’t care how good the money is…being a fan post Navas would suck.