Sevilla well rested ahead of Chelsea trip
Saturday’s lunchtime trip to Granada would have been one of the last fixtures Julen Lopetegui wanted before his Sevilla team began their Champions League campaign. An Andalucian derby (albeit not one of the same intensity of the city clash with Betis), away from a home against capable, athletic opponents who qualified for Europe for the first time in the club’s history last season was most certainly not what the doctor ordered.
It was as bad as the boss might have feared, with Joan Jordán’s first-half red card – for two bookings in the space of a minute, no less – forcing Lopetegui to make changes to the team quicker than he would have liked, curtailing Lucas Ocampos‘ afternoon off, for one. That they were able to leave out their star man, as well as forwards Luuk de Jong and Youssef En-Nesyri, underlined the sort of depth the men from Nervión have these days. They should be fresh at Stamford Bridge when they face Chelsea.
One thing they won’t be able to do, though, is pick Jules Koundé, the brilliant young defender who contracted coronavirus on France Under-21 duty. With the otherwise tidy Diego Carlos sometimes struggling with direct runners, one wonders if Timo Werner and Tammy Abraham can get at Sevilla. What we also know, though, from the Europa League latter stages is that Lopetegui’s charges are old hands in terms of game management, and can grind out wins without playing at their optimum level.
Transitional Porto need a plan for City
If Sevilla thought they had a tough play-in to their European campaign, spare a thought for Porto. Sérgio Conceição’s side had a clássico to take care of on Saturday night at Sporting, which included the champions coming from behind to lead, becoming embroiled in a protracted VAR controversy and ultimately having to swallow the disappointment of conceding a late equaliser to the home side.
In its aftermath, the Portuguese media have pointed out that Porto have equalled their worst Liga run under their coach, though to put that into perspective, it does comprise of two games without a win. What has been more concerning either side of the international break is his team’s defensive caprices, with new signing Zaidu struggling badly in his first game replacing the departed Alex Telles.
Porto are clear second favourites at Manchester City, and not only because of their juggling of new personnel (Felipe Anderson also had his debut difficulties, giving up possession in the build-up to Luciano Vietto’s equaliser for Sporting). The Portuguese giants have a miserable record in England, having never won in 20 visits, incorporating 17 losses. If City start well, heads could easily drop.
Back City to win to nil at 6/52.22
Source: Betfair Champions League
