Sevilla FC vs Valencia CF Match Preview

Sevilla FC vs Valencia CF Match Preview

Stadium: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán

Date: 29.11.2015 2030 CET

Match 13 - Liga BBVA

Coaches: Unai Emery and Nuno Santo

Coming from a bad game against FC Zenit, the morale of the players and the coach looks weak. In the last game we could see that a good Champions League team dominated us, though we had good amount of possession, we couldn't make much out of it. 

Now we are back to one of the toughest and most intense games Valencia CF will play this season. Back in the mid 90s, Villareal were seen as a direct rival and the derbies used to be a pleasure to watch, however, over the last several years Valencia CF's rivalry has shifted towards Sevilla. After being knocked out in the Europa League's Semi Final in 2014, the rivalry has gone up to the next level. Former Valencia CF players E. Banega, A. Rami play for Sevilla. Not to forget, Unai Emery manages Sevilla. The man who was pretty successful at Valencia, however, couldn't beat the Real Madrid, Barcelona duopoly. 

Sevilla, themselves haven't had a great start to the season with securing just 15 points out of the twelve games played. They have lost to rather weak opponents, however, they have performed well against Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively winning against both teams. Their UCL performance too has been terrible, standing at the bottom of the group and most likely to be eliminated from the group stages. Sevilla's team confidence is pretty low currently after losing to Monchengladbach in the UCL and to Las Palmas in their previous league game. 

Valencia CF too have had a shaky start to the season, with the last game ending up in a draw against a weak team on paper like Las Palmas. Valencia CF have always faced difficulties at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, they haven't won a single game in the last fifteen games played there. Eleven loses and four draws. So this will be a tricky fixture, where both the teams will try to clinch three very important points to stay in the hunt for that fourth UCL spot. 

Negredo and Mustafi have been left out of the squad due to injuries. Most likely Santos will take Mustafi's position teaming up with Abdennour. Abdennour still hasn't come to full form, which he showed with AS Monaco. He hasn't really got the time to pair up with a regular defensive partner, the way Otamendi did with Mustafi. Parejo has been inconsistent as always, he put up a great performance against Celta Vigo but again was lost in the midfield with Las Palmas and Zenit, he really needs to play well if we need to control the ball in the midfield. Paco Alcácer is regaining his form, if we need to win against Sevilla, his part is the most crucial. It would be interesting to see who Nuno selects to start on the left wing, Valencia CF haven't had a regular starter for this position, Santi Mina, Bakkali and Piatti, all being rotated for this position. 

Sevilla Players to look out for - Vitolo, Gameiro, Llorente and Konoplyanka

Valencia CF Squad:

Goalkeepers: Doménech, Ryan
Defenders: Cancelo, Barragan, Abdennour, Santos, Vezo, Gaya, Orban
Midfielders: Javi Fuego, Danilo, Enzo Perez, Parejo, Andre Gomes, Feghouli, De Paul, Bakkali

Forwards: Piatti, Paco Alcácer, Santi Mina 

Technical Details Valencia CF (probable setups):
Formation: 4-3-3
Line-up: Jaume; Cancelo, Santos, Abdennour, Gaya; Perez, Parejo, Gomes; Feghouli, Paco, Bakkali.
Tactics: Medium defensive line, mixed passing, counter attacks

Prediction: 1-1