Sevilla vs Almería Match Preview
Gregorio Manzano has failed to obtain a single point in the last three games and the situation could soon become unbearable without some positive impact in the results. Almeria, on the other hand, fails to escape from the bottom fight and wants to avoid its 10th game without celebrating a victory.
Antonio Palop's return was not enough for Sevilla to recover the right path. The hosts will be missing key players as Jesus Navas, Luis Fabiano and perhaps Diego Perrotti too. The visitors are highly compromised too as Hernan Pellerano, Hernan Bernadello, Miguel Angel Nieto and Michel are all struggling with injuries and might not be ready to perform. At least, Almeria recovers Juanma Ortiz.
A victory is mandatory both for Sevilla and Almeria to find themselves in this season. Manzano's confidence remains intact after such adverse results in the last games. “These players can easily put together four consecutive wins, because they have desire and ambition. Myself and my players, we will give everything for the name of Sevilla" said Nervionenses' head coach earlier this week.
Will this be enough to return to victory at the Sanchez Pizjuan? Sevilla might say goodbye to the European fight upon another defeat. Almeria must secure the full scoring to take off from the basement. Will they make it?
Sevilla vs Almería Match Report
Gregorio Manzano's Sevilla suffered another defeat at home, this time by Almeria, who dominated the game clearly throughout the whole second half. Frederic Kanoute missed a penalty shot in the first half that could have greatly changed the development of the game.
It looked like the hosts will claim the full scoring as Jose Carlos Fernandez's shot in the fifth minute of the game hit the crossbar and was left bouncing millimeters away from crossing the goal line. The agony stayed with Sevilla for the next 85 minutes of the game. Minutes later, Sevilla's defender Alexis connected a powerful header that went slightly away from Almeria's goal.
The game took a radical twist in the last 45 minutes. Three minutes into the second half, Fabian Vargas opened the score with a delightful shot that caught Antonio Palop off-guard. The goal froze the game and it took more than thirty minutes to open a bigger gap, as Pablo Piatti found the second goal after a brilliant cross.
Kanoute reduced the difference to a minimum two minutes later but it didn't last long: Piatti again in the last minute of the game (after Sevilla was left with 10 men as Alexis received a second yellow card) secure the three points for the visitors.