Sevilla famously met Liverpool in the Europa League final in 2015/16, beating the
Merseyside team 3-1 to lift the trophy three times in a row, a record.
Since then, Sevilla have seen Unai Emery leave for PSG and Jorge Sampaoli
depart to take over the Argentina national team.
New coach Eduardo Berrizo, himself from Argentina, has revious experience
in La Liga managing Celta Vigo.
Sevilla have tended to use a 4-1-4-1, 4-3-3, and 4-2-3-1 in La Liga, but in the Champions
League, Berrizo has favoured the 4-3-3.
The usual line up sees the superb Steven N’Zonzi or Guido Pizarro deployed as a sitting
midfielders, with shuttling midfielders either side, usually Ever Banega taking a more
creative role plus one other.
Ahead, former Toulouse striker Wissam Ben Yedder is the side’s
top scorer in Europe, with four goals, while Joaquin Correa has one goal and one assist.
Berizzo, like previous coach Sampaoli, favours a high press and a man-orientated low block.
This gives Sevilla a continuity from the previous regime.
When Sevilla press high, one man presses the opponent on the ball, while others
fan out to press passing options by man.
This also allows Sevilla to screen passing channels
as they press aggressively and it’s a style they
are used to from Sampaoli’s time in charge.
When defending closer to their own goal, Sevilla fold back, double marking any playmakers,
and using the wide players to tuck back and man mark their opposite numbers.
Against Liverpool, expect Sevilla to aggressively
push up to Liverpool’s attacking players as they drop
into space between the lines.
Sevilla are currently fifth in La Liga for possession, with an average 55.2%, but 12
th for shots, averaging 11.5 shots per games.
While Sevilla like to keep the ball, they don’t transition
vertically as quickly as they did under the swash-buckling Sampaoli.
Nonetheless, their build- up play has similar features.
Sevilla are happy to build patiently to draw opposition markers
forwards, which should entice Liverpool’s press.
Once pressed, Sevilla create quick triangles of passing, using close control and off-the-ball
movement to work the ball around pressing players and with width.
It’s not uncommon to see the team then switch the ball through
Banega or the creative Franco Vasquez to the other flank.
Left-back Sergio Escudero gets forward well in support of these moves, with
Sevilla always looking to create overloads out wide.
Sevilla also have great versatility within their attacking options.
Banega and Vasquez are elegant passers of the ball, while former
Manchester City men Nolito and Jesus Navas are
quick, physical players.
Luis Muriel poses a threat on the break with his direct running and
excellent dribbling while Ben Yedder is adept at holding up the ball and poses a genuine
goal threat.
Indeed, Sevilla have a surfeit of attacking options that will keep opposition guessing,
with Brazilian schemer Ganso and versatile midfielder Pablo Sarabia also capable of
unlocking defences.
Sevilla are less a side in transition under a new manager than a team building on several
years of success under a boss who is tactically like his predecessor, but more astute
defensively and less inclined to gung-ho attack.
This intelligence, combined with Berizzo’s ability to use the options in his squad to
counter specific opposition strengths or exploit their
weaknesses, means Sevilla will once again pose a threat to Liverpool’s European aspirations.