The last 72 hours in Nervión have not been easy. The digestion of a defeat in the derby at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán has been heavy. Neither the result nor the image of the Sevilla were those expected by Matías Almeyda and his players, who … They need a quick reaction to start turning the page. There appears this duel of the King’s Cup in Almendralejo as the first opportunity to partially heal the wounds. “The best thing about football is that it soon gives you a chance to compete again,” professionals often say after a setback. Even more so if that setback has been as painful as Sunday’s, with a resounding defeat in a rivalry duel. “We are changing the concept of what it means to lose a derby,” said the Sevilla coach, in a wide-ranging appearance in which he did self-criticize his team’s behavior.
Almeyda needs to get back on track. Five defeats in the last six league games have put the focus on the coach, who must look for solutions to fix Sevilla’s defensive imbalances. Too many goals conceded for a team under constructioneven though the Argentine always maintains that his teams play forward. Without their best players on the pitch, and with some participating but not being in the best physical condition, the Sevilla team loses those attributes that Almeyda has tried to instill in them since his arrival. Also the style of play of this Sevilla requires a 100% team, with that deployment forced by the direct duels that the coach proposes throughout the field. A whole cocktail of situations that have caused a decline in performance and doubts to reappear on the horizon of the Nervión club.
The Cup invites you to change registration. The club has hopes in the KO competition to get excited about a goal for the season. Almeyda himself has always indicated that he likes this type of tournaments, which he already added to his locker during his stays both in Mexico with Chivas and in Greece with AEK. A Cup that forces you to drink every match very seriously to avoid scares, especially in these first rounds against lower level teamsl. If against CD Toledo, Sevilla already overcame the Toledo team’s initial goal to end up winning with solvency, against Extremadura, a team that plays in the Second RFEF, they will have to offer that same committed version, regardless of whether the coach prepares changes to the starting lineup.
-
Estremadura
Christian; Hurtado, Cano, Peral, Tala, Imanol, Zarfino, Luis Morcillo, Arhoun, Maikel and Marco. -
Sevilla FC
Nyland; Carmona, Cardoso, Kike Salas, Oso; Gudelj, Joan Jordán, Agoumé; Alexis, Isaac and Alfon. -
Arbitrator
Alberola Rojas (C. Castellano-La Mancha) -
Estadio
Francisco de la Hera (9:00 p.m., Movistar)
It will be a new game to see footballers on the pitch who have been participating less frequently. From the goal with the return of the Norwegian Nyland to the forward, where Isaac Romerosanctioned for LaLiga, will be the team’s striker. Ramón Martínez, Kike Salas, Oso, Manu Bueno… Homegrown players who will have a new opportunity to vindicate themselves against Almeyda, who will have to use some more regular players due to the forced absences due to injury of players like Suazo, Rubén Vargas or Januzaj, the latter being precisely one of the great protagonists of the victory in the first round of the cup in the Salto del Caballo. The first opportunity may also come to Joan Jordánof whom Almeyda indicated that he is already at the same level as his colleagues.
In these types of matches you always have the motivation of the rival. An Extremadura, which has the losses of Cordero, Álvaro and Frodo, and which is going through a small crisis, after two consecutive defeats that have made it lose the leadership of the group, but which faces the Cup as an oasis of vindication. An opportunity to raise the profile on the national scene if it is capable of bothering a Primera team like Sevilla, so Almeyda’s team will do well to take the challenge very seriously. Also for those more than 3,500 Sevillistas who will be at the Almendralejo accompanying the team, giving color and importance to the Cup.
Tribute to Kings
The duel will also serve to remember Jose Antonio Reyes. Legend of Sevilla, the Utrerano played his last games as a footballer for Extremadura before his unfortunate accident. This link between both teams will mean that in the run-up it will be planned to pay tribute to the figure of Reyes, while his father will witness the match from the box, after accepting the invitation made by the Extremaduran club. A special recognition for the Utrerano, in a cup tie that pits two of the teams from his extensive career against each other.
