23/04 - 20:00
23/04 - 20:00
Despite recent European success, Sevilla have won surprisingly few trophies in Spain, but could this season be their best chance at winning La Liga in 75 years?
A cursory glance at the La Liga table will be a surprise for many. Real Sociedad are top, Real Betis are fifth, and Osasuna are ahead of Barcelona. But it shouldn't be too surprising to see Sevilla in third – they're generally in the top four or just a bit further out depending on the form of a club like Valencia or Villarreal. And if they drop out of the Champions League spots they usually just win the Europa League anyway.
However, this time there's a sneaking suspicion that with Barcelona in crisis, Real Madrid not completely convincing under Carlo Ancelotti, and Atlético's defence no longer instilling fear into opposition attacks that maybe, just maybe, this could be a special year for Sevilla.
Little domestic success
More associated with continental glory than domestic, the Andalusian club have only been league champions once and lifted the Copa del Rey five times - put those two numbers together and you get the same number of times they've won the Europa League.
Sevilla were last league winners in 1946, and since then have only been runners-up twice and third place thrice. But then Sevilla have had to deal with some of the greatest club sides ever like Guardiola's Barcelona, the Galácticos, and the all-conquering Real Madrid teams of the fifties and sixties. And when Spain's two giants were having bad seasons there was always a team like Atlético, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao, or even Deportivo La Coruña to mop up.
Maybe now things are different. Not only are Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético not showing signs of a proper title charge, but the 'best of the rest' aren't doing much better either. Valencia under Peter Lim are a shadow of their former selves, Athletic are always a difficult fixture but haven't been threatening the top spot for years, and poor Deportivo La Coruña are in the third tier.
The Monchi method
Famously, the first time Monchi was allowed to splash the cash as Sevilla's football director it was to sign a little-known Brazilian full-back named Dani Alves for €500,000. That kind of deal is something that Sevilla has become famous for, creating a sustainable football model that has been emulated by many other clubs in Europe that can't quite compete financially with the super elite.
Monchi is a clever guy who has moved with the times, changing the strategy when appropriate and adapting to the developments of big data. But Sevilla isn't just about buying low and selling high. There's a serious ambition to catch up with the 'big three' of Spain. Indeed, that's why last year the club signed Papu Gómez and former player Ivan Rakitic, both of whom have little resale value.
It had a positive effect: Sevilla were only nine points behind winners Atlético and won 24 games in total last season – the most they've ever won in a league campaign in their history.
The time is now
During the summer, Sevilla didn't let any of their big names leave the club with the exception of the young Bryan Gil. Jules Koundé and Youssef En-Nesyri are still there, and they've been joined by the likes of Rafa Mir, Thomas Delaney, and a motivated Erik Lamela.
Those new signings join an experienced team led by a capable manager in Julen Lopetegui and captained by club legend Jesús Navas. The Sevilla squad now boasts the likes of the tricky Lucas Ocampos, flying full-back Marcos Acuña, and reliable goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. There aren't many star names in the squad but that doesn't matter when every piece of the puzzle has been meticulously chosen.
Currently, Sevilla are level on points with Real Madrid – both teams have won eight, drawn three, and lost one. But there's just one thing that might hold Lopetegui's side back, they've still yet to face Atlético, Real, or Barça. Some big results against them could make for a spectacular season.
We're one point off our best ever tally after 1⃣2⃣ games in @LaLigaEN! 🔝 #WeareSevilla #LaLiga
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) November 9, 2021
