Mixed fortunes for Spanish sides in Europa League

A victory, a draw and a defeat on Thursday evening wasn’t the greatest start to the Europa League for the Spanish sides involved, but all three will still harbour hopes of making it to the group stages next week.

Athletic Bilbao 0 Trabzonspor 0

Athletic suffered a disappointing draw in the first competitive match of Marcelo Bielsa’s reign. Things appeared to be going Athletic’s way when as early as the seventh minute the Turkish side were reduced to 10 men; Burak Yilmaz seeing red for a kick out at Iker Muniain.

Fernando Llorente had already gone agonisingly close in the first minute but it was to be a frustrating evening for the Spanish striker as he missed a host of chances. Athletic were also denied by some fine goalkeeping by Tolga Zengin who saved brilliantly from Markel Susaeta and Llorente in the second-half.

Trabzonspor remained dangerous on the break and Paulo Henrique nearly gave them an away goal but his delicate chip over Gorka Iraizoz landed
just wide.

Hannover 96 2 Sevilla 1

Sevilla also face an uphill struggle to get through to the group stages after losing 2-1 in Germany. Jan Schlaudraff put the home side in front after only five minutes with a calm low finish beyond Andres Palop.

Sevilla responded well and Alvaro Negredo nearly had them level on the half hour but Robert Zieler in the Hannover goal tipped his long-range deflected shot onto the post. The 2007 winners did get the crucial away goal minutes later after neat play from Jorge Coke and Negredo left Freddie Kanoute free to fire into an empty net. However, just as Sevilla were looking comfortable they fell behind again when a fine Hannover move was rounded off by a sweet finish from Schlaudraff, this time low across Palop into the far corner.

In a second-half of few chances Hannover’s Sergio Pinto came closest with a shot from distance but both sides seemed content with a scoreline
that leaves all very much to play for in Seville next week.

Atletico Madrid 2 Vitória Guimarães 0

In the only positive result for Spanish sides in Europe this week, Atleti took a firm grip of their tie with Vitória after two goal from Elias in the second-half.

The Brazilian who had been linked with Porto this week as part of the Falcao transfer showed he could have a big role to play at the Calderón this season with two fine finishes, the first a powerful header at the back post and the second a cool side-foot from the edge of the box. Both goals were set up by Adrián who again demonstrated that although he may lack a killer instinct in front of goal he can play a vital role in linking the play up front.

Among the other positives for Gregorio Manzano was the performance of Gabi in the midfield who already looks very comfortable in his new surroundings and also combined well with Thiago.

However, there may be some concern that the goals didn’t arrive until Vitória had been reduced to 10 men after Joao Paulo was sent off for a wild challenge on Adrián. The exclusion of Diego Forlan from the side could also be significant with the Uruguayan set to follow David De Gea and Kun Aguero as high-profile departures from Atleti this summer.

Tough Europa League ties in prospect for Spanish sides

In contrast to Villarreal’s Champions League draw, Friday’s Europa League draw was not kind on the Spanish participants.

Here is a quick guide to what Atlético Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla should expect when the ties get underway next midweek.

Atlético Madrid

Opponents: Vitória de Guimarães

How did they get here? Runners up in 2011 Portuguese Cup; beat Midtjylland of Denmark in third qualifying round.

Star Man: Edgar

Analysis: With Porto utterly dominant in Portugal and indeed in this competition last season a cup final appearance was enough to guarantee Vitória European football for the first time in three seasons.

Vitória would also have been eligible to qualify for the Europa League via their league position, finishing as they did in fifth place. That represented a good first season in charge for Manuel Machado, but given the continued dominance of the big three in Portugal and recent resurgence of Braga it has hard to see Vitoria improving beyond that position much this year.

There is a familiar name for followers of the Premier League in England and Scotland as former Spurs, Portsmouth and Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes has joined Vitoria after leaving Sporting Lisbon at the end of last season. Like all Portuguese sides there is also a smattering of Brazilians for Atleti to watch out for. Striker Edgar was top scorer last season and will be the man for Gregorio Manzano’s men to watch out for over the next fortnight.

They also don’t boast a great European pedigree with a run to the quarter-finals in the 1986/87 Uea Cup their best performance in a European competition.

Vitoria’s start to the season has been satisfactory if not sensational. Victory over Midtjylland was seen as a necessity and they just managed to overcome that hurdle, coming from behind in the second-leg at home to win the game and the tie 2-1.

The Portuguese side shouldn’t cause Atleti too many problems but Vitoria showed in their 2-1 defeat by Porto in the Portuguese Super Cup this weekend that they are capable of causing problems for more illustrious opponents.

Athletic Bilbao

Opponents: Trabzonspor

How did they get here? Finished second in Turkish Süper Lig; lost to Benfica in third qualifying round of Champions League.

Star Man: Didier Zokora

Analysis: Athletic will be one of the stories everyone across Europe will be following this season. With Marcelo Bielsa at the helm a mixture of joy, intrigue and madness surely awaits.

However, this is a very tricky first step on what will hopefully be a long Europan adventure this season. Turkish football has attracted a number of big names in recent years and although the league was marred by corruption and match fixing allegations, Tranbzonspor’s second-place finish last season shows they are a competent side.

There is also a familiar name for La Liga followers. Didier Zokora ended his two-year stay in Seville with a €5 million move to Istanbul earlier in the summer.

The Turks would have been hoping for Champions League football this term but were defeated by Benfica in the third qualifying round with former Barcelona striker Nolito scoring twice in a 3-1 aggregate win for the Portuguese side.

On paper this will be a tough one for Bielsa’s men, the added disadvantage of the first-leg being at home and coming before Athletic have kicked a ball in competitive action in La Liga only compounding the fact that this was about as tough a draw as they could have faced at this stage.

Sevilla

Opponents: Hannover 96

How did they get here? Finished fourth in Bundesliga last season

Star Man: Didier Konan Ya

Analysis: Sevilla also face a tough first tie as they try to replicate their success in this tournament of 2006 and 2007.

Hannover finished fourth in last season’s Bundesliga and were not far off stunning Bayern Munich by taking third and preventing the Bavarian giants the opportunity to participate in the Champions League in the year in which the final will take place in Munich.

Although such heights are unlikely to be replicated this season they pose a serious threat to Sevilla’s future in this year’s competition. Ivorian striker Didier Konan Ya netted 14 times in the league last term and was linked with a number of Europe’s big clubs – including Bayern – during the summer.

There is also a wealth of experience in the form of Austrian defender Emanuel Pogatetz and American Steve Cherundolo. Meanwhile, former German international Christian Pander was recruited from Schalke this summer.

Norweigan international forward Mohammed Abdellaoue will also provide a goal-threat and acts as the perfect foil for the pace and strength of Konan Ya.

Sevilla will have the advantage of the second-leg at home but with the Bundesliga already under way Hannover will have the advantage of going into both ties with competitive action under their belt.

First-legs – August 18

Atlético Madrid v Vitória de Guimarães

Athletic Bilbao v Trabzonspor

Hannover v Sevilla

Second-legs – August 25

Vitória de Guimarães v Atlético Madrid

Trabzonspor v Athletic Bilbao

Sevilla v Hannover

Match Report: Real Madrid 2 Sevilla 0

FT: Real Madrid 2 (Ozil 80, Adebayor 90 +3) – Sevilla 0
Real Madrid ensured that for the first time in 21 years the Copa del Rey final will be a Classico with a breathless, if not breathtaking, 2-0 victory over Sevilla.

Following a 1-0 win for the 17-time winners at the Sanchez Pizjuan last week many thought tonight’s encounter would be nothing but a formality. Yet, it was anything but in a hard-fought first half.

Real started the game with a high-tempo synonomous with Mourinho’s most successful sides over the past few years. The return of Xabi Alonso alongside Sami Khedira in midfield helping to put the Sevilla midfield under pressure and the hosts should have been ahead inside five minutes.

After Angel Di Maria’s left foot shot had been parried by Javi Varas, Karim Benzema was left with an open goal. However, in what was to be the first miss in a night of comically poor finishing by the Frenchman, he managed to stroke the ball wide.

Thereafter, Sevilla grew into what became a half litered with free-kicks and yellow cards. Alvaro Negredo coming closest for the visitors when his smart finish was ruled out for offside on 10 minutes – replays showing it was an extrmely close call.

At the other end, Sevilla had Varas to thank again for keeping the scoreline blank, this time denying Ronaldo from a one-on-one following a flowing counter-attack involving Ozil, Benzema and Di Maria.

The second half was a very different affair as both sides evacuated midfield – allowing the match to take on the appearance of a game between school kids, played at 100 miles an hour. However, the pattern was to prove much more to the home side’s liking as they consistently exposed Sevilla’s ludicrously high line.

Benzema further displayed his exhibition in how not to finish; firstly, by running the ball out of play after turning Sergio Sanchez, then firing over after a long ball had found him behind the Sevilla defence and, finally, by somehow manging to turn the ball over from three yards after Ozil and Ronaldo had done brilliantly in the build-up.

Ronaldo was then unlucky to be ruled offside from another Ozil slide-rule through ball but eventually the holders suicidal offisde line caught up with them. After seeing those in front of him fail time after time, Ozil showed his strikers how to do it. Played through by compatriot Khedira, the German cooly rounded Varas and tapped into the empty net.

With the Bernabeu now in party mode Benzema was removed (arguably, putting the Madristas in even greater party mood but that would be too harsh after all he did do this in the first-leg) to allow Emmanuel Adebayor his home debut. Within two minutes the former Togolese international had been cynically taken out by Sanchez and the game had what it most deserved – a red card. Sanchez’s second yellow the seventh of the evening in what was an ill-tempered affair.

Only a further two minutes had passed when Adebayor showed Benzema the way to goal (and it should be noted made Mourinho a very happy and smug man of the touchline - yes, even more than usual). The Manchester City loanee controlling Lass Diarra’s cross expertly on his chest before firing a thunderous volley into the roof of the net.

The 3-0 aggregate win allows Mournho to continue his excellent record in domestic cup competitions and his current employers to head back to the final after an eight year absence. Set your diary for April 20th, another meeting of Spain’s two titans awaits.

Match Report: Sevilla 4 Levante 1

FT: Sevilla 4 (Luis Fabiano 27, 42 (pen), 67, Escude 37) - Levante (Xisco 57)

A Luis Fabiano hat-trick helped Sevilla seep aside a poor Levante side and move back into the race for Europa League qualification.

In a repeat of the scoreline between these two sides on the opening day of the season, the home side dominated from start to finish and in the returning Jesus Navas and with Fabiano re-discovering his best from Los Rojiblancos had the cutting edge in the final third that they have often lacked this season.

In contrast Levante seemed like a side lacking in confidence, unsurprising given that they have now lost their last five games, and often left record-signing Felipe Caicedo isolated up front.

After a successful outing in the Copa Del Rey midweek, Gregorio Manzano was able to recall captain Andres Palop, Diego Perotti, Navas and Fabiano to the starting XI. Sergio Sanchez also retained his place in defence to make his first league start in 18 months following his recovery from heart problems.

Unsurprisingly Navas was involved as Sevilla made the breakthrough on 27 minutes. The winger clipped the ball over from the right side but Fabiano still had an awful lot to do, bulleting a looping header over Manolo Reina into the net. The hosts then made the game safe with a two goal burst just before half-time. Koffi Romaric’s corners have proved a rich source of goals for Sevilla in recent weeks and they were so again as Julien Escude stooped to head home at the near post. Fernando Navarro was then ‘felled’ by the slightest of contact from Javi Venta inside the area - Fabiano slotting home the spot-kick.

There was some consolation for Levante when Xisco fired into the roof of the net after a neat through ball from Caicedo 12 minutes after the break. However, they didn’t threaten to build on that lifeline and with every passing defeat look destined for a return to the Segunda after one season back in the big league.

Fabiano sealed the three points and his hat-trick with another wonderful finish from 20 yards. After a disappointing first half of the season, O Fabuloso living up to his billing as La Liga turns the corner. Los sevillistas will be hoping the Brazilian international is now over his post World Cup funk with Mourinho’s men heading to the Sanchez Pizjuan on Wednesday.

Match Report: Sevilla 3 Villarreal 0

FT: Sevilla 3 (Renato 7, Kanoute 47, Alexis 50) - Villarreal 0

Sevilla secured their passage into the Copa Del Rey semi-finals with a comfortable 6-3 aggregate win over Villarreal.

Both managers surprised many onlookers with their line-ups, Gregorio Manzano and Juan Carlos Garrido taking the opportunity to rest some of their star names. Sevilla made four changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Espanyol at the weekend. The most striking omission being that of Jesús Navas, while Sergio Sánchez made his long-awaited return after 13 months out with heart problems. Garrido handed a first start to Cicinho at right-back and surprisingly left Marco Rubén and Bruno on the bench, Jefferson Montero starting on the right side of midfield with Mateo Musacchio in the centre and Jozy Altidore up front alongside Giuseppe Rossi.

That two sides in the top half of La Liga that should be looking for cup success should choose to field weakened teams is a sad reflection, not just on the Copa Del Rey, but on the whole atmosphere surrounding Spanish football. It is more likely that instead of simply prioritising upcoming league and Europa League fixtures both managers saw the likelihood of facing Real Madrid over two-legs in the semi-finals and a potential final against Barcelona as such a daunting task that qualification to the last four does not possess the excitement that it should do.

However, Manzano’s changes ultimately proved inspired. With Sánchez offered the extra protection of Alexis and Fernando Navarro either side of him in a back three, Sevilla switched to a 3-5-2. It was a system that certainly suited Martin Cáceres who was extremely dangerous moving forward from right wing-back.

In contrast Villarreal never really got to grips with the game and looked understandably disjointed. Cani and Borja Valero were unable to exert the influence in midfield that they had in recent weeks and Montero and Altidore did little to boost their chances of further first team action.

The pattern of play was set by an early goal for the hosts. Mouhamadou Dabo played the ball across from the left and Renato was on hand to make sure Álvaro Negredo’s flick over Diego López crossed the line.

Negredo could have added a second five minutes later but headed wide from Cáceres’ excellent cross. Both goalkeepers then ensured the scoreline remained 1-0 at half-time. Firstly, Sevilla’s Javi Varas, deputising for injured captain Andrés Palop, tipped Gonzalo’s header onto the bar before denying Rossi with a wonderful save after Altidore’s only major contribution to the game had sent the Italian through. At the other end, López parried Koffi Romaric’s fierce drive before snatching the loose ball at Negredo’s feet.

However, the Galician’s efforts were to no avail as Sevilla put the tie to bed with two goals within five minutes of the second-half. Villarreal’s propensity to give up goals at set-pieces has been cruelly exposed in recent weeks and it was their Achilles heel here as well. First, Freddie Kanouté thundered home his 13th goal of the season from Romaric’s corner. And three minutes later the Ivorian’s delivery found Alexis, who was credited with the goal despite the fact that Villarreal defender Jose Mauel Catalá appeared to get the final touch.

From then on the tie was over but Garrido’s strange decision making continued as he introduced Marco Rubén and Bruno with little under half an hour remaining.

Negredo should have capped a fine performance with a goal but blazed over having been played in by Kanouté.

Overall, it was another satisfactory night in the cup for the holders - a win that should also ease the pressure of Manzano. A sixth Copa Del Rey success should be a formality. After all, it’s only Real and Barca that stand in the way.

Match Preview: Sevilla v Villarreal

Villarreal head to the Sánchez Pizjuán this evening knowing that, realistically, anything less than a victory will see their bid for a first Copa Del Rey crown slip away.

Sevilla’s recovery from a 3-1 deficit last week to grab a 3-3 draw has given the holders the upper hand but the result is far from a foregone conclusion.

Sevilla have struggled mightily on home soil this season – Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Espanyol their fourth at home this term. Moreover, even without the injured Nilmar, Villarreal have been in fine scoring form in recent weeks, averaging three goals a game in their last five outings. The visitors’ also have a great record in second-legs having drawn the first-leg at home, winning the tie 43% of the time – including in the only previous meeting of these two sides in the 1998-99 season.

However, there is some cause for optimism amongst Los Rojiblancos in Villarreal’s mounting injury problems. Long term absentees Carlos Marchena, Marcos Senna and Ángel López along with Nilmar are joined by Santi Cazorla for the second straight game. With Bruno also a doubt there will be a great responsibility on the in-form Cani to supply Marco Rubén and Giuseppe Rossi up front. Juan Carlos Garrido is also likely to give youth its chance with Javier Matilla set to deputise for Cazorla and Mario to retain his place ahead of new signing Cicinho at right-back.

The finely balanced nature of the tie also presents Sevilla managers, Gregorio Manzano, with a dilemma. Often when sides only require a draw at home in the second-leg of a two-legged tie there is the temptation to play slightly negatively.

Given Villarreal’s threat on the counter-attack Manzano may be tempted to play a patient, waiting game hoping for the opportunity to spring Jesús Navas and Diego Perotti on the break. Yet, given his leaky defence and the form of Freddie Kanouté and Álvaro Negredo since the return of Navas after the winter break, it is a tactic I would avoid.

For all of Villarreal’s good play in recent weeks their propensity to concede goals has been exposed – they have conceded 11 goals across the same five game period.

Sevilla would be well advised to put their best foot forward to expose the visitors’ weaknesses and return to the Copa Del Rey semi-finals for the fourth time in five years.

Probable Line-ups

Sevilla: Varas, Navarro, Escudé, Alexis, Dabo, Perotti, Romaric, Zokora, Navas, Kanouté, Negredo

Villarreal: Juan Carlos, Oriol, Catalá, Gonzalo, Mario, Cani, Bruno, Borja, Matilla, Marco Rubén, Rossi

Match Report Sevilla 1 Osasuna 0

Sevilla ended a five-match losing streak with a deserved 1-0 win over a depleted Osasuna.

Gregorio Manzano welcomed back Jesús Navas to the starting eleven and the winger proved the difference between the sides in what was generally a disappointing encounter.

Freddie Kanoute headed the only goal from a Navas free-kick ten minutes before the break and, thereafter, the home side were rarely threatened by an Osasuna side that has won only two points and scored four goals away from home all season.

Sevilla started brightly with Osasuna goalkeeper Ricardo denying Diego Capel within the first minute before Alvaro Negredo miscued with a header at the back post. Ricardo again foiled Capel, this time with a much clearer one-on-one opportunity, inside the first 10 minutes.

Such was home side’s dominance that goalkeeper Andres Palop played almost as an auxiliary sweeper in the first-half, often rushing from his goal to scupper any sign of an Osasuna counter-attack. However, the Sevilla captain was forced into a save from Juanfran just before the 20 minute mark.

Sevilla finally made the breakthrough on 35 minutes . Navas swung over a free-kick from the left for Kanoute to head home his sixth league goal of the season.

In a somewhat turgid second-half the hosts’ intensity dropped slightly as they seemed happy to happy to settle for the narrow margin of victory after an awful run of form. Osasuna obliged in providing very little threat going forward. Coach Jose Antonio Camacho was missing five first-team regulars, with Walter Pandiani, Nacho Monreal and Javier Camuñas all injured and Iranian internationals Javad Nekounam and Masoud away at the Asia cup, and it showed badly. Juanfran was the only visiting player that looked capable of creating a chance but he often lacked support in the final third.

Overall, a vital win for Manzano’s Sevilla which moves them up to ninth in the table, six points ahead of Osasuna in fifteenth.

Axe falls on Antonio Alvarez first

Five games and five weeks in, a uncharacteristically long time by Spanish standards, La Liga has its first managerial casualty of the season.

After a 2-0 defeat to Hercules on Sunday evening, Sevilla announced that Antonio Alvarez would be the first of undoubtedly tens of managerial changes this term.

In a widely anticiated move, Sevilla have again aid the rice for not acting during the summer. For the second consecutive season they played managerial blackjack in the off season and regretted sticking with what they already had.

Last season Maonolo Jimenez, despite his impressive cojones, was sacked in March. His replacement, Alvarez, was charged with the objective of getting an expensively assembled squad back into the Champions League. He did so. Just. And the decision to keep him was based somewhat on a false premise.

On the last day of the season Mallorca's players assembled in the centre circle of Son Moix after a comfortable 2-0 victory over Espanyol. Their comical and loveable mascot Demonio took to the pitch, champagne bottles in hand. Unbelievably, a club on the verge of bankruptcy had been saved. Thanks to the wonderful efforts of their manager, Gregorio Manzano, they were headed for a fourth place finish. Then as they watched in horror, an unheralded 19-year-old, Rodri, scored a 93rd (a them some) minute winner for Sevilla in Almeria.

Alvarez had achieved his goal. Or so they thought. Come August and a 5-3 aggreagate defeat to Braga in the Chamions League qualifiers, Alvarez's fate was sealed. A strong start to the domestic campaign only served to delay the inevitable. Sunday's loss, the first of the season in the league, was the final straw. But at least he has robbed his successor the chance of Champions League football, twice. The man now stepping into the breach at Sevilla, Gregorio Manzano. Funny old game and all that.

Alvarez's sacking has somewhat overshadowed another great performance from Hercules who are shaping up to be inconsistent, mad, exciting and a whole lot of fun deserately needed around the mid-table spots of the league. They were so good against Sevilla that even Royston Drenthe looked like that 'New Roberto Carlos' that Real Madrid signed three years ago.

Players being overprotected?

Two weeks ago after the Saturday evening game between Athletic Bilbao and Ateltico Madrid I supported Sid Lowe's assertion that sometimes madness is better than genius. In San Mames' latest Saturday night offering madness and genius were combined for a thoroughly entertaining fare. Barca beat Athletic 3-1 and again looked imperious, particularly in the creation of their first goal. However, the pattern of the game was determined by Fernando Amorebieta's sending off for a semi-lunge on Andres Iniesta. It was a challenge that on another day might have seen just a yellow but in the light of the 'protect the best players' debate precipitated by Ujfalusi's challenge on Messi last week, and which also got Ernesto Galan sent off for his challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo midweek, it was always going to see red.

Four-Point Roundup

1. Valencia are for real. Pace, skill, clinical finishing and good organisation is a heady mix. They should really test Man Utd in the Champions League this week and given the form of another team in white who knows...

2. Which leads to point two. Real Madrid are rubbish! Well, at least in front of goal. Six goals in five games it sounds all so Mourinho. Their drought is so bad that this week they couldn't even score against a side still in administration and whose highest earner (Felipe Caicedo, yes, thats right Felipe Caicedo is their highest earner) earns less than Ronaldo does in a week. Well played Levante!

3. Depor 0 Almeria 2 means that Depor have now gone 563 minutes without a goal from open play...quelle suprise.

4. That talk of madness being better than genius. See the first 43 minutes of Malaga-Villareal. At that point the score was 3-2 Villareal (including 2 corkers from little fat Santi Cazorla!). Anyway, at that point it was all too much fun for Carlos Marchena,record breaker, leg breaker and arguably La Liga's most evil man. Eliseu saw red for this 'assault' on poor Carlos, although (the only thing) in Marchena's defence, Eliseu is a dirty cheating scoundrel aswell.