Sevilla v Numancia Preview – Jornada 20

By: Anthony | January 16th, 2009

We started off 2009 year horrible, and that’s an understatement. First drawing at home to Osasuna 1-1 in a game that would have kept us in second place only behind Barcelona.

Since that though we’ve racked up three wins against Deportivo la Coruña including winning both legs of the Copa del Rey and one league match in between those (and we were even down to 10 men for 50 minutes!!!). In each game we managed to score more than one goal (lame, I know…) and it looks like we’re finally playing like we’re supposed to. Fabiano is on top form and putting in goals left, right and centre. Psychologically the whole team looks stronger because of these victories and it looks like we’ve finally reached the peak of our performance level.

Tomorrow is officially the half way point through the season and things are starting to look up again. We take on Numancia in the last game of the first half of the season but a couple things are going to change for the lineup tomorrow.

Javi Varas will get his first La Liga start between the posts due to Palop’s suspension he picked up last Saturday when he grabbed the Depor striker’s leg without touching the ball and bringing him down in the box. Palop’s suspension was originally to be a two game affair but today the Spanish Gaming Competition Committee announced that it will be reduced to a one match ban because the tackle wasn’t malicious.

This is amazing news for us as he will only miss tomorrow’s match at home to Numancia and not when we play Valencia midweek at the Mastalla in the quarter finals of the Copa del Rey.

Jiménez also said that he may include Mosquera in the lineup tomorrow because Konko is still out injured and despite having enough players, he needs cover for the inconsistent Crespo at right-back. However, Romaric who picked up a injury against Depor midweek has recovered to full fitness and will be in the squad tomorrow.

For some reason this year we’ve struggled against the promoted teams losing 1-0 to Málaga and just edging Sporting Gijón 4-3 in a nail-biter. To add salt to our wounds we’ve drawn with Primera División relegation battlers Mallorca and Osasuna. This match against Numancia is crucial, and I know I say that every game but it’s come to that point in the season where any dropped points could seal our fate for Champions League qualification.

My prediction for tomorrow’s match is that we’re going to cruise to a 4-0 victory. It’s about time we blew out someone and with our confidence peaking, now is a better time than ever.

I’ll have the match report up after the game tomorrow.