Sevilla - Stuttgart
Sevilla might not have qualified for the Champions League last season but they are looking in buoyant form this year as they aim to crack the top four and put themselves amongst the elite again. The Andalucian side missed out on fourth spot to Atlético Madrid but after seven games in La Liga this time around they are looking like not just top four contenders, but title challengers.Manolo Jiménez has seen his side go undefeated up until this stage, with two draws against rivals Real Betis and Racing Santander the only dropped points in an otherwise perfect start.
Take into account the fact that for many of those seven games the manager has not even had his strongest eleven to call from and it is easy to see why they are rated so highly in Spain. Against Almería at the weekend they were missing all of their first choice strikers but due to their impressive squad strength and determination they managed to grind out a win thanks a second-half strike from Adriano.
That sheer grit and willingness to get results even when things aren’t going for them signals Sevilla out as serious challengers for not only domestic titles but also for European silverware, again. In their qualifiers against Salzburg they might not have set pulses racing for ninety minutes each leg but instead they were patient and picked off their opponents when they were at their most vulnerable.
This new found patience and all round strength seems to have been instilled by Jiménez and it will certainly be interesting to see how they develop when Luis Fabiano, Freddy Kanouté, Javier Chevantón and Arouna Koné all return to full fitness.
At least this Thursday however, Stuttgart will not need to worry about three of those four, with Fabiano a possibility but still unlikely to play. The German side, much like Sevilla, are bidding to bounce back from a year of disappointment and failure to qualify for the Champions League but they have not started brilliantly in the Bundesliga or Europe so far.
Their route to this stage of the competition has come through the Intertoto Cup and whilst Sevilla are favourites they will not be underestimating the German side, bearing in mind the class amidst their ranks.Armin Veh has assembled a team built on solid foundations but containing some creative sparks, both in midfield and upfront.
Tomas Hitzlsperger is always a threat whether it be with his wide range of passing or his hammer-like shots and Mario Gomez, who disappointed for Germany in the summer seems to be finding life easier with his club side again as he starts to rack up the goals. The Germans also brought in Dutch defender, and ex-Sevilla player, Khalid Boulahrouz over the summer to bolster what is already a strong looking back line.
Sevilla
Luis Fabiano is fighting to be fight for this opening group match but his partner Freddy Kanouté is definitely out, as are Javier Chevantón and Arouna Koné. That means Jiménez will more than likely stick with the same side that won at Almería at the weekend, with Romaric and Lautaro Acosta darting into forward positions.In midfield it should also be the same story where Diego Capel is still out injured and Renato is a doubt , meaning there will be space for Adriano, Enzo Maresca, Jesus Navas and Aldo Duscher.
Probable Line-Up (4-3-2-1): Palop – Konko, Escudé, Prieto, Navarro – Duscher, Maresca, Romaric – Navas, Adriano - Acosta
Stuttgart
Armin Veh will more than likely stick with the same side that lost narrowly to Hertha Berlin at the weekend, although he could alter the formation in a bid to win the battle of the midfield.Gomez and Cacau are the most likely pairing upfront whilst in the midfield Hitzlsperger should play alongside Roberto Hilbert in what looks to be a fairly competitive side.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Lehmann – Trasch, Tasci, Delpierre, Magnin – Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Pardo, Boka – Gomez, Caucau
Sevilla to win.
Take into account the fact that for many of those seven games the manager has not even had his strongest eleven to call from and it is easy to see why they are rated so highly in Spain. Against Almería at the weekend they were missing all of their first choice strikers but due to their impressive squad strength and determination they managed to grind out a win thanks a second-half strike from Adriano.
That sheer grit and willingness to get results even when things aren’t going for them signals Sevilla out as serious challengers for not only domestic titles but also for European silverware, again. In their qualifiers against Salzburg they might not have set pulses racing for ninety minutes each leg but instead they were patient and picked off their opponents when they were at their most vulnerable.
This new found patience and all round strength seems to have been instilled by Jiménez and it will certainly be interesting to see how they develop when Luis Fabiano, Freddy Kanouté, Javier Chevantón and Arouna Koné all return to full fitness.
At least this Thursday however, Stuttgart will not need to worry about three of those four, with Fabiano a possibility but still unlikely to play. The German side, much like Sevilla, are bidding to bounce back from a year of disappointment and failure to qualify for the Champions League but they have not started brilliantly in the Bundesliga or Europe so far.
Their route to this stage of the competition has come through the Intertoto Cup and whilst Sevilla are favourites they will not be underestimating the German side, bearing in mind the class amidst their ranks.Armin Veh has assembled a team built on solid foundations but containing some creative sparks, both in midfield and upfront.
Tomas Hitzlsperger is always a threat whether it be with his wide range of passing or his hammer-like shots and Mario Gomez, who disappointed for Germany in the summer seems to be finding life easier with his club side again as he starts to rack up the goals. The Germans also brought in Dutch defender, and ex-Sevilla player, Khalid Boulahrouz over the summer to bolster what is already a strong looking back line.
Sevilla
Luis Fabiano is fighting to be fight for this opening group match but his partner Freddy Kanouté is definitely out, as are Javier Chevantón and Arouna Koné. That means Jiménez will more than likely stick with the same side that won at Almería at the weekend, with Romaric and Lautaro Acosta darting into forward positions.In midfield it should also be the same story where Diego Capel is still out injured and Renato is a doubt , meaning there will be space for Adriano, Enzo Maresca, Jesus Navas and Aldo Duscher.
Probable Line-Up (4-3-2-1): Palop – Konko, Escudé, Prieto, Navarro – Duscher, Maresca, Romaric – Navas, Adriano - Acosta
Stuttgart
Armin Veh will more than likely stick with the same side that lost narrowly to Hertha Berlin at the weekend, although he could alter the formation in a bid to win the battle of the midfield.Gomez and Cacau are the most likely pairing upfront whilst in the midfield Hitzlsperger should play alongside Roberto Hilbert in what looks to be a fairly competitive side.
Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Lehmann – Trasch, Tasci, Delpierre, Magnin – Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Pardo, Boka – Gomez, Caucau
Sevilla to win.
posted by Midnight Sun @ 00:05,
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