Sevilla FC: Three hopes, one fear
By Sean Maslin
The big fear: That there isn’t a goal-scorer on the roster.
It is never a good start to a campaign when one loses seven of their top ten goal scorers from the previous season. But that is the situation that Sevilla are facing this campaign having lost Kevin Gameiro (Atletico Madrid), Ever Banega (Inter Milan), Yevhen Konoplyanka (Schalke 04-loan), Fernando Llorente (Swansea City), Coke (Schalke 04), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), and Jose Reyes (Espanyol). Combined the seven players scored 76 of the club’s goals across all competitions a striking stat and really leaves Sampaoli at a disadvantage in his first season.
More from Playing for 90
- Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with Barcelona
- Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’
- Barcelona put five past Real Betis
- Manchester City suffer but come away with win over West Ham
- Baffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victory
The good news is that Sevilla did a good job at least in theory in addressing the issue. We have already discussed the additions of Nasri and Ganso and what they mean for Sevilla and Sampaoli in year one. But the club also brought in some intriguing options in Wissam Ben Yeddeh (Toulouse), Joaquin Correa (Sampdoria), and Franco Vazquez (Palermo).
Of the three Ben Yeddeh has the most upside. With Toulouse Ben Yeddeh ripped apart Ligue 1, scoring 17 goals last season and helping Les Pitchouns avoid relegation. Although he doesn’t really have the experience in Europe or playing in the top four in a league, he has done just fine in early in this campaign for Sevilla. He currently leads the team in goals with four across all competitions and scored their lone goal in their 1-0 win over Lyon in the Champions League.
If Ben Yedder can continue his current run of positive form then it will certainly go a long way towards allaying the fears of who might be their talisman up top. Until then it is very much up for debate.