Kike Salas heads the ball during the first leg of LaLiga EA Sports matchday 6 between Sevilla and Villarreal at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium. / José Manuel Vidal / EFE
Sevilla FC arrives at La Cerámica this Wednesday with survival hanging in the balance, a squad stretched thin by injuries highlighted by Luis García Plaza, and institutional turmoil permeating every level of the club. Against a Villarreal side that can secure third place with a win, the visitors face a high-stakes match where victory would all but guarantee their top-flight status. Meanwhile, the club is in the decisive phase of being sold to a group led by Sergio Ramos.
The win against Espanyol provided a much-needed boost in the standings and lifted morale in a dressing room that recovered from the setback in Pamplona with two consecutive victories, but nothing is settled yet. García Plaza was emphatic that 40 points would not be enough: “No, you never know. There are teams below us now; we could even survive with 40. I think one point won’t be enough, but I don’t know how many it will take. I’m focused on Villarreal. If we win, it would be incredible; if we draw, it’s an important point. Anything we add is positive. We’re going to a difficult venue,” the Madrid-born coach admitted, labeling the clash against Marcelino’s side as “the toughest” of the remaining three fixtures.
Sevilla FC’s Possible Lineup
Villarreal is not an easy opponent in someone else’s fight. On the contrary, the Yellow Submarine aims to finish an outstanding season by securing a historically valuable third place. García Plaza warned: “Villarreal will field all their starters to close out the season.”
Without Isaac and with forced changes due to high fatigue levels, García Plaza may field a lineup with several adjustments. Isaac Romero is out due to injury and is not the only setback. Without naming names to avoid giving Marcelino clues, the coach mentioned players who cannot play more than a short stint and others that medical staff recommend protecting from the bench. “There will be four or five changes.” The starting eleven is dictated by workload, accumulated fatigue, and the need to compete without breaking more pieces.
Vlachodimos is expected to start in goal again. Azpilicueta, now recovered, could return to the lineup, with Castrín, Kike Salas, and Oso battling for defensive spots. In midfield, Gudelj, Batista Mendy, and Sow will aim to stifle Villarreal’s interior play, with their presence likely more important without the ball, leaving the Swiss player as the most advanced midfielder.
Up front, Isaac’s absence opens the door for Neal Maupay or Akor Adams, who scored the sealing goal against Espanyol, while Juanlu, Alexis, or Ejuke could alternate on the wings depending on the plan and available legs.
With the ball as the focal point, Nervión is also watching the boardroom. The process of Sergio Ramos’s group and Five Eleven Capital acquiring Sevilla accelerated on Monday with a marathon meeting, followed by a shorter session on Tuesday. Payment guarantees are still being worked out optimistically, but more than ever, football results influence the price and timeline of a project that obviously holds different value in the top flight versus the second division.
Another survival final—perhaps the most challenging due to the opponent—awaits Luis García Plaza’s men. But buoyed by the confidence from their last six points out of six, Sevilla arrives at La Cerámica hoping to play a strong match so that the season’s struggles can end even before LaLiga concludes.
