Sevilla wants a placid return to an unforgettable stage
The people of Seville will defend their great 3-0 advantage over PSV in a Philips Stadium in Eindhoven where they lifted their first UEFA
MADRID, 22 Feb. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Sevilla visits PSV this Thursday (6:45 p.m.) in the tie prior to the Europa League round of 16, with the peace of mind that the wide 3-0 cushion harvested in the first leg gives them, so they will not want scares in their return to the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven, where they lifted their first UEFA title in 2006, while the Dutch will look for a miracle to come back with the encouragement of their fans and stay alive in the competition.
The waters seem to be somewhat calmer in Seville in recent weeks, with a team that has managed to get out of the urgent situation that was dragging through a horrible first round in the domestic championship. In fact, they came to be in relegation places in more than one day, a red zone that they now look at with three cushion points, after drawing (1-1) in Vallecas this Sunday.
Rayo’s was the third consecutive game without losing for Jorge Sampaoli’s men, who have achieved 10 of the last 15 possible points in the League to get that much-needed oxygen. In addition, he was able to reinforce his confidence based on a European win (3-0) in the first leg of this European playoff. A duel that came with uncertainty and casualties, but the Seville team showed that their idyll with the old UEFA has nothing to do with dynamics or ‘downs’.
Sampaoli’s men completed a very serious and complete game, which was stranded until the discount of the break, when Youssef En-Nesyri, who has accumulated five goals in the last six games, put his team ahead. The great work, the best duel for the Sevilla players so far this year, was sealed thanks to a stellar Lucas Ocampos, who coming off the bench contributed with a beautiful and complicated volley goal and an assist on a protruding heel for Nemanja Gudelj .
That 3-0 result seems like a sufficient cushion to avoid having trouble at the Philips Stadion, although Sevilla must remain alert and not err on the side of innocence to defend that precious advantage. And it will do so in Eindhoven, the scene of the first UEFA that the Sevilla fans celebrated, after thrashing Middlesbrough (0-4) with goals from Luis Fabiano, Kanouté and a brace from Maresca. Jesús Navas is the only survivor of that squad, in a special return that will remove the best red and white European memories.
Given the innumerable casualties due to injury and suspension in the Nervión team -Gudelj, Lamela, Papu, Rekik, Marcao and Gueye-, Sampaoli will have to repeat many of the pieces used in Vallecas. Thus, Yassine Bono would repeat in goal, with Jesús Navas resting Montiel on the right, a line of three central defenders made up of Nianzou, Fernando Reges and Telles, and Acuña or Bryan Gil on the left.
The Sevilla squad player could also act as a midfielder, although those positions seem to be reserved for the toned Ocampos and Suso, both substituted against Rayo. Joan Jordán, suspended in Vallecas, will return to the double pivot, with Iván Rakitic and Óliver Torres, who would debut this year in the Europa League. In attack he would repeat En-Nesyri, if his physique allows it, while Rafa Mir waits his turn, without the option of Erik Lamela as a false ‘nine’.
PSV NEEDS A MIRACLE TO STAY ALIVE
Opposite will be a PSV with many shadows, especially after the bad image at Sánchez-Pizjuán, with its flatter and less connected version of the course. A missing Xavi Simons or a Luuk de Jong who barely received free balls to threaten Bono’s goal did not shine in the first leg. Only three days after the disaster in Seville, the Dutch team sweated a draw in Utrecht (2-2), a result that increases uncertainty and doubts about whether they will be able to come back this Thursday.
Although the conditions are not favourable, PSV will have the solid Phillips Stadion in their favor. Their feud has been almost insurmountable, keeping a clean sheet in three of the last four Europa League games at home, with only one defeat in their nine home games in European competition. Although, against Spanish teams, the statistics are not so positive, since they have been eliminated in the last four ties against LaLiga Santander teams.
With one foot out of the competition, PSV will receive Sevilla with the only major absence being Thorgan Hazard, who was a substitute at Sánchez-Pizjuán. Thus, Ruud van Nistelrooy’s lineup will be very similar to the one he proposed in the Seville city, with the dangerous Saibari on the right in attack, and the deep Teze and Van Aanholt on the defensive lanes.
DATASHEET.
–POSSIBLE ALIGNMENTS:
PSV: Benítez; Teze, Ramalho, Branthwaite, Van Aanholt; Til, Sangaré, Veerman; Saibari, De Jong and Xavi Simons.
SEVILLE: Bond; Jesus Navas, Nianzou, Ferdinand, Telles, Gil; Jordan, Rakitic, Ocampos, Suso; En-Nesyri.
— Referee: Daniele Orsato (ITA).
–STADIO: Philips Stadium.
–TIME: 18.45/Goal.