El Papu, a dilemma for Lopetegui

After more than a month injured, Papu Gómez returned in the last half hour against Granada to give Sevilla the first victory in five league duels. More rhythm, an assist (and a half) and a goal from the Argentine, who seemed not to have lowered the great tone shown for several months until that physical problem stopped him at the end of February, during the league derby against Betis.

It is clear that Papu has to play yes or yes, and it seems likely that he will return to the starting lineup against Real Madrid for the next league match. But Lopetegui faces a main dilemma: where to place the Buenos Aires soccer player, who has performed much more with freedom in midfield and midfield, but now it is more difficult to fit in a 4-3-3 that he cannot count on a defensive pivot like Fernando, who will miss the rest of the campaign, or Delaney, who still has time to return.

A solution for Papu to play in the middle is put behind Nemanja Gudelj, but the Serbian has performed more as a central defender than as a midfielder. Against the Nasrids, the Sevilla coach dared in the starting lineup with a double pivot Jordán-Rakiticsomething that seems too risky against a rival of Madrid’s offensive potential.

In the absence of Suso’s recovery, and although men like Martial or En-Nesyri are far from their best version right now, Lopetegui has also found a blessed overbooking at the top, with Ocampos, Tecatito, Lamela, Rafa Mir and even Munir, in addition to those already named, to occupy three or four positions. Papu could be added to them, as more indisputable than any. Lopetegui has the mission of fitting him in his ideal place for these last and vital seven days.