Sevilla achieved a precious victory. Not so much for the form, much more for the suffering suffered at the end due to the harassment of Osasuna and for what the three points mean. Nothing more and nothing less than breaking a three-game losing streak. It looks like Osasuna will have a rough time this season. It’s true that they had a clear chance to equalize, even if Odysseas blocked Raúl’s goal, but so does their disastrous performance away from home. In seven games they have obtained just one point and scored one goal away from Pamplona. The worst record of the competition. And this, although negative, is not the worst thing.
It’s a team that doesn’t really know what it’s playing and that suffers from a terrible lack of football. He had the courage, yes, to fight until the end for a draw, but his decisions on the rival field were all wrong. For example the foul on the edge of the area in the last play with which Moncayola crashed into the wall after a terrible shot. Therefore, Sevilla won. And his fans celebrated in style, aware of the importance of the three points. A penalty by Moi for Juanlu whistled by the VAR to Miguel Ángel Ortiz scored by Vargas defined the clash. In Nervión there was little football, even if there was a lot of emotion towards the end.
It is no coincidence that Seville and Osasuna are going through a bad time. There is little football in the Andalusian team, in the midst of a bad period, orphaned of two experienced references in Azpilicueta and Alexis Sánchez. With a double pivot with Mendy and Sow, Agoumé also out, Sevilla barely knows what to do with the ball. Almeyda returned to the three-centre system and his team barely managed to get going, with a fairly decent first half. Only Vargas, this time at center instead of on the wing, tried to give some dynamism to the game of a very depressed team. Osasuna had almost no problems. They defended themselves with a certain order, even if they barely tried in attack. It’s a team that needs to be formed. Lisci, his coach, starts the program with the ball played from behind and his players get their tactics wrong. Without Budimir, injured, his attacking football was a mirage.
With so little finesse from either side, it should come as no surprise that not a single shot was produced between the three posts of either goal in a first half of little kicking and finishing. Akor, Sevilla’s striker due to Isaac Romero’s injury, did not cause any concern. He lived in constant offsides (up to four in the first act).
Herrera made a save against Akor on the first play of the second half. A nice counterattack from Sevilla unbalances Osasuna. On the next corner, Moi hits Juanlu. The VAR alerted Ortiz Arias, who ordered a penalty. Vargas transforms the situation and Sevilla takes the lead. Raúl could have equalised, but it is clear that it is not Budimir. Odysseas also made a great save. From this moment on, neither Sevilla was able to close the game on the counterattack, nor did Osasuna translate its great territorial dominance into danger. Lisci positioned Catena as a center forward and sent many balls into the area. No one was killed due to the danger. The absence of football from the Navarre team is truly worrying. With Osasuna upended and Sevilla defending their one-nil tooth and nail, the match was over. For the locals it was worth it. The guests reflected on their lack of talent. The Navarrese have 10 points less than last year. Outside the house I’m a real mess.
