Sevilla FC returned knocked out from their last visit to Barcelona and, five days later, they return to try their luck again in a more earthly setting: the RCD Stadium. The red and white team received a ‘little hand’ in Montjuic, thus extending its black legend in the stadiums of the big LaLiga clubs. However, García Pimienta’s men have the obligation to stand against Espanyol today with everything and obtain their first victory outside of Nervión. The parakeet team also faces this duel after a painful defeat and wants to make amends in front of its audience. Manolo Gómez’s men are just two points away from relegation and intend to become stronger at home. In addition to the ‘little hand’ conceded, the match against Barcelona was especially painful due to Ejuke’s serious injury. The Nigerian will be off the pitch for at least three months. Bad news for the Sevilla coach, who loses one of the team’s most decisive players. Now, Pimienta has the difficult task of replacing the left winger with solvency and, to do so, he has Peque, Idumbo and Barco at his disposal. Everything seems to indicate that the Catalan player will be the one who starts on the left lane, although he is a regular in the midfield. However, the Sevilla coach has Sow, Agoumé and Gudelj at his disposal to make up the midfield and be able to relocate Peque to the left accompanying Lukebakio and Isaac. For the center of defense, Pimienta recovers Nianzou, who served a suspension last Sunday. The Frenchman returned from the international break with some muscle discomfort, but this week he trained completely normally, so he will be in the squad. The Catalan coach is alternating with Marcao, who played in Montjuic, but his ownership is one of the unknowns in tonight’s eleven. «I think that the four (Badé, Nianzou, Marcao and Kike Salas) are performing at a maximum level. They are all prepared. I’m going to be fair to those who play and unfair to those who don’t. “I’m going to be calm because whoever plays is going to be prepared,” Pimienta alleged yesterday at the press conference prior to the duel. Those who will surely not travel to Barcelona will be Suso and Saúl, in addition to the previously mentioned Ejuke. The man from Elche still has four weeks of recovery left to start working with the group, while the man from Cádiz will remain in the dry dock for two or three weeks. Furthermore, one of the new features of the red and white squad is the presence of Pedro Ortiz. For its part, Espanyol has doubts about Javi Puado. The forward has been out for a month after being injured and, although he has trained this week with the group, González said yesterday at a press conference that he will not decide on his participation until the day of the match. Puado is Perico’s top scorer with three goals and has been linked in recent weeks with Sevilla, since next June he fulfills his contract and would remain a free agent. The Catalan team, which has returned to the First Division this year, feels the pressure to move away from the relegation places. Even more so after the 4-1 defeat in San Mamés last weekend. Sevilla FC, with a slightly wider margin of points, will head to Cornellá with the mission of proving that they are one step above the clubs fighting for salvation. A pulse that will truly determine the packaging and real competitiveness of the group led by García Pimienta.
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