Betis and Sevilla face the derby this Sunday Andalusian with opposite faces. Those of Pellegrini in Champions positions and those of Sampaoli in the relegation zone in the Spanish league.
The Seville derby faces this Sunday at the Benito Villamarín (5:00 p.m. in Chile) two teams with states of opposite mood, with a euphoric Real Betis and in ‘Champions’ and a depressed Sevilla FC after falling to the relegation zone.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men, fourth with the same points as Atlético de Madrid (23), the last team that made them give in, interrupted a streak of two league days without winning by beating Real Sociedad in Anoeta (0-2), a victory between two other Europeans, the last of them this Thursday against the Finnish HJK (3-0).
After finishing Group C of the Europa League without knowing defeat, the Verdiblanco team returns to the domestic competition willing to strengthen its place ‘Champions’ in a match in which he will not have the injured Juanmi, Joaquín, Luiz Felipe and Víctor Camarasa, but for which he recovers Guido Rodríguez.
“We all know that derbies are special, there is a very positive rivalry for the city as long as it stays within the sports field. It creates a huge expectation and that excess of anxiety leads one to make more mistakes. We have to be calm, play our football and beat an important rival like Sevilla, which is a Champions League rival”, Pellegrini said in the preview.
Opposite, Sevilla, touched after a new defeat against City (3-1), attends the demanding appointment in full depression despite the arrival of Jorge Sampaoli; they have only got one point from the last nine at stake after drawing against Valencia (1-1) and losing to Real Madrid (3-1) and Rayo Vallecano (0-1), and only Elche, Cádiz and Mallorca they have fewer goals for him (11).
As a result, he has fallen to the relegation zone, albeit with the same units that score salvation (10). A victory at home for the eternal rival could boost the morale of the Nervionenses, who will add to the casualties of ‘Tecatito’ Corona, Nianzou and Fernando that of Isco, who must complete the cycle of yellow cards, and of Marcao, with a fibrillar rupture.
“This is a match with high levels of intensity. We are going to face a team that has a long time to consolidate, but we need a win to start going more calmly. In these types of matches it would be very good to win to grow through positive emotions”, said Sampaoli, former Chile coach.