Porto do not like playing second fiddle in Porutgal, let along third fiddle, so after being forced into background as Benfica and Braga fought for the 2009/10 season championship title it was inevitable the Blue and Whites would come back strongly. Just how strongly has surprised many. A brilliant return of 56 points out of a possible 60 in league play and an equally impressive record in the Europa League (7 wins and 1 draw in 8 games) means Porto will go into the tie full of confidence.

 

New coach Andre Villas-Boas wasted no time in constructing an exciting team, which earlier in the season had Portuguese pundits suggesting it was the best Porto side since José Mourinho’s vintage. A slight downturn in form since December, coinciding with an injury to prolific marksman Falcao, has led to quick reappraisals on that score. The last time Porto were in this competition they won it, and with the league title likely to be sewn up well before season’s end Villas-Boas will be keen to be in the mix in the latter stages of the Europa League. 

Out of the cup, 14 points off a Champions League spot, a minus three goal difference, this isn’t the season Sevilla fans were expecting. After grabbing a Champions League point with the last kick of last season and then winning the Copa del Rey, most Sevillistas had reasons to look forward to this season. However, their season never got off the ground after their shock Champions League qualifying exit at the hands of Braga.

 

When looking over Sevilla’s season so far, the defeat to Braga cannot be understated. It was a defeat that cost the club an estimated €10 million, ruling out any big name signings and which led to the eventual sacking of coach Antonio Álvarez. Brought in to replace Álvarez was Gregorio Manzano, the man who took a bankrupt Real Mallorca to the cusp of a Champions League place. However, Manzano has been unable to turn around Sevilla’s erratic form and they currently sit eighth in La Liga.

 

 

If this tie was taking place three months ago Porto would be strong favourites to complete a convincing win against their Iberian neighbours. A 5-0 thumping of fierce rivals Benfica in November was the high point of their exhilarating start to the season. Since then their form has dropped noticeably, albeit with results still impressive, and the convincing 2-0 victory away at Braga on Sunday suggested they are on their way back to their best. 

Last five matches: W-D-L-W-W

 

Sevilla go into this game on the back of 3-2 defeat away to a Racing Santander team who played the entire second half with 10 men. While that result may have been classified as a shock a few seasons ago, this season it’s nothing out of the ordinary. Since the start of 2011, Sevilla have been unable to get any sort of momentum going this calendar year and won only one league game.

Last five matches: L-W-D-D-L

 

 

The Champions League regulars are not happy about having to compete in Europe’s second club competition, but that does not mean they are not taking it seriously. Porto have an almost impeccable record in Europe this season. After thrashing Belgian side Genk 7-2 on aggregate in the opening round, Porto waltzed through the qualifying stage, dropping just two points in a home draw against Besiktas. The away leg against the Turkish giants saw Porto produce one of their performances of the season, winning 3-1 despite having two men sent off.

 

Like Porto, Sevilla see themselves very much as a Champions League team and it took them a while to come to terms with the early exit from the competition. Their Europa League campaign got off to a terrible start when they lost 0-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain. Their next match was Manzano’s first in charge and the team responded well with an impressive 0-1 away victory against German league leaders Borussia Dortmund. The Andalusian side then won back to back games against Karpaty Lviv of Ukraine before losing for the second time to Paris Saint-Germain. That defeat in Paris meant they needed a point in their final game to go through. On a nervous night in the Sánchez Pizjuán, Sevilla held on for a 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund.

 

Carlos Carvalhal, the ex Sporting coach turned TV pundit said earlier this season: “With all due respect to the other professional footballers in Portugal, I have to say Hulk does not belong in this league. He is too good.” Few would argue with him. Explosive acceleration, searing pace, remarkable skill for such a well-built man and a frighteningly powerful left-foot shot combine to make the Brazilian practically unplayable when on song. And he has been very much on song this season. Twenty-seven goals so far tells its own story. Without doubt destined to become a true global superstar and to earn Porto a huge transfer windfall. 

 

Part of the reason for Sevilla’s poor early season form was the absence of star man, Jesús Navas. The little winger has gone from strength to strength in recent seasons and is now a regular in Vicente del Bosque’s Spain squads. Navas hugs the touchline like a traditional winger and his main attributes are his pace and trickery. Once he’s past you, there’s no chance of you catching him and if he gets anywhere near the box, tackles must be inch perfect. Navas also has the ability to deliver excellent crosses for the likes of Luis Fabiano and Álvaro Negredo. With new signing Ivan Rakitic now playing in the centre of midfield, Sevilla have a player capable of picking Navas out with long passes.

 

André Villas-Boas made headlines from the moment he took his first managerial role at just 32 years of age at Académica de Coimbra. Years spent alongside José Mourinho as one of the Special One’s trusted assistants at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan raised expectations regarding a possible “Mourinho mark II” with Villas-Boas’ attempts to distance himself from the inevitable comparisons falling on deaf ears. Failure to shake off that association has been perhaps the only thing in the last eighteen months that has not panned out the way the young coach would have liked.

 

After guiding Académica to safety, no mean feat considering the club were rock bottom of the table when he took over, he was given an immediate chance to prove himself on a bigger stage when Porto identified him as the man to start a new cycle after Jesualdo Ferreira’s four-year reign came to an end. He has done little wrong since and seems destined to win silverware for his home-town club at the first time of asking. 

 

Gregorio Manzano spent last season at Real Mallorca where he took a team considered as relegation candidates to within seconds of a Champions League spot. Ironically, they were denied fourth place by a last gasp goal from Sevilla. Manzano left Mallorca at the end of last season and was linked with the job at Sevilla but President José María del Nido decided to keep faith with Antonio Álvarez. However, after the poor start to the season, Álvarez was given his marching orders and Manzano brought in.

 

Part of the reason Manzano hasn’t been able to turn the club’s fortunes around is down to the attitude of some of the bigger players. The likes of Luis Fabiano and Frédéric Kanouté just haven’t been pulling their weight. However, another cause has been the lack of consistency in selection. At one point this season, Sevilla surpassed the 100 game mark without repeating the same eleven. Del Nido has said Manzano will stay until the end of the season but a poor performance against Porto and it could be curtains for Manzano much sooner.

Sevilla: Palop, Sánchez, Alexis, Fazio, Navarro, Zakora, Romaric, Navas, Rakitic, Perotti, Kanouté

Porto: Helton, Fucile, Rolando, Otamendi, Sapunaru, Moutinho, Guarín, Fernando, Varela, Hulk, Falcao

Readers Comments (2)

1. Europa League Previews – The best of | gibfootballshow says:

   February 17, 2011 at 11:34 am

   [...] October 2009 17.02.2011 Europa League Previews – The best of category: Europa League tags: Ajax, Anderlecht, Benfica, Europa League, FC Porto, Lech Poznan, Lille, Napoli, PSV, Rangers, Sevilla, Sporting Braga, Sporting CP, Stuttgart, Villarreal It is hard sometimes to keep up to date with all the previews flying around twitter and the like. So gibfootballshow is here to help you. For all your Europa League needs here are a list of some fantastic previews for tonights games. The Oval Log build up the epic encouter between Napoli and Villarreal. Rangers face Sporting CP at Ibrox tonight so I put together a tactical preview for the Scottish Football Forums. Chris Mayer and Mohammed Moallim team up for the lowlands clash as Anderlecht host Ajax at the Constant Vandenstock Stadium. Ben Shave from cahiers du sport picks up five players to watch from Benfica as they face Stuttgart on ITV. The league leaders of France and Holland meet up in France this evening, read my preview of Lille v PSV Michal Zachodny gives us the low down on Lech Poznan as they face Sporting Braga Spanishfootball.info and Portugoal.net team up to bring you a preview of Sevilla v FC Porto [...]

   Reply »
2. Europa League Previews – The best of | gibfootballshow says:

   February 17, 2011 at 11:34 am

   [...] October 2009 17.02.2011 Europa League Previews – The best of category: Europa League tags: Ajax, Anderlecht, Benfica, Europa League, FC Porto, Lech Poznan, Lille, Napoli, PSV, Rangers, Sevilla, Sporting Braga, Sporting CP, Stuttgart, Villarreal It is hard sometimes to keep up to date with all the previews flying around twitter and the like. So gibfootballshow is here to help you. For all your Europa League needs here are a list of some fantastic previews for tonights games. The Oval Log build up the epic encouter between Napoli and Villarreal. Rangers face Sporting CP at Ibrox tonight so I put together a tactical preview for the Scottish Football Forums. Chris Mayer and Mohammed Moallim team up for the lowlands clash as Anderlecht host Ajax at the Constant Vandenstock Stadium. Ben Shave from cahiers du sport picks up five players to watch from Benfica as they face Stuttgart on ITV. The league leaders of France and Holland meet up in France this evening, read my preview of Lille v PSV Michal Zachodny gives us the low down on Lech Poznan as they face Sporting Braga Spanishfootball.info and Portugoal.net team up to bring you a preview of Sevilla v FC Porto [...]

   Reply »