Matchday 4 | Group G
Sampaoli’s team needs to beat the Danish champion to at least play in the Europa League, their favorite competition.
Sevilla hosts Copenhagen on Tuesday in the penultimate day of the Champions League group stage with the obligation to win to have access to the Europa League, their favorite competition, as a lesser evil, but with an eye also on the duel that the powerful Manchester City disputes in Dortmund. Jorge Sampaoli’s team is third in Group G, five points behind Borussia and eight behind Pep Guardiola’s team, already qualified for the round of 16. To continue dreaming of the top continental competition, the people of Seville imperatively need to beat the Danish champion, with whom they are evenly matched, and that in turn City do not fail against the Germans, for whom a simple draw is enough to advance mathematics.
The severe defeat and draw against the German team have led Sevilla to focus their goals on third place. Everything goes through the improvement of a group in tactical and mental reconstruction after hitting rock bottom with Julen Lopetegui. “The global evolution of the team has to give us the possibility of a takeoff,” summarizes the Argentine coach, who arrives at the appointment after suffering his first defeat at the Bernabéu (3-1) in this new stage at the helm of the club. nerve. Despite falling, the image of the Andalusians against the leader was quite positive, with options to score until Ancelotti made the changes and Lucas Vázquez and Valverde decided near the end.
Like its rival, Copenhagen also hastens its options after surprising and drawing goalless against City in the previous day. The Nordics had also managed to stop Sevilla in the first game, with a draw to nothing that began to put stones in the path of the Seville. “The goal for us is to stay in the fight to be in Europe after the winter break,” Copenhagen manager Jacob Neestrup said on Monday. “If we win, at least we will play in the Europa League and maybe we will dream of more. And if we get a point, we have a reasonable chance of finishing third », he added.
Likely lineups:
Sevilla:
Dmitrovic, Montiel, Gudelj, Marcao, Alex Telles, Rakitic, Jordán, Lamela, Papu Gómez, Isco and Rafa Mir.Copenhagen:
Grabara, Jelert, Diks, Kocholava, Lund, Kristiansen, Lerager, Haraldsson, Daramy, Claesson y Roony.Referee:
Benoit Bastien (FRA).Hour:
6:45 p.m. Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.TV:
Movistar Champions League.