Emery aiming to extend Sevilla's season
Monday, December 7, 2015
Article summary
Sevilla need to defeat Juventus to have any chance of extending their European campaign and Unai Emery hopes a win can be a catalyst for a UEFA Europa League defence.
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Article body
- Unai Emery says Sevilla's attack needs to improve if they are to see off Juventus
- The Sevilla coach is determined to qualify for, and defend, the UEFA Europa League
- Sevilla need to win and for Gladbach to fail to defeat Manchester City
- Juventus require a point in Seville to guarantee top spot in Group D
- Juventus determined to finish first to avoid the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona
Possible lineups
Sevilla: Sergio Rico; Coke, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Trémoulinas/Escudero; Iborra, Krychowiak; Vitolo, Banega/Krohn-Dehli, Konoplyanka; Llorente.
Out: Carriço (hamstring), Kakuta (hamstring), Beto (knee), Pareja (knee), Andreolli (foot)
Doubtful: Trémoulinas (foot), Banega (thigh)
Juventus: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Lichtsteiner, Pogba, Marchisio, Sturaro, Alex Sandro; Dybala, Morata.
Out: Khedira (thigh), Hernanes (thigh/suspended), Pereyra (thigh), Mandžukić (flu), Cáceres (thigh), Evra (knee), Lemina (knee)
Unai Emery, Sevilla coach
We have to beat Juventus to have a chance of playing in the Europa League, a competition that has given a lot to us. Juventus have three world-class central defenders. It is true that we don't only depend on ourselves [in the race for third], so all we can do is play a good game.
We have to look to be more dangerous in attack, and we are working on that. We have played better with only one forward. Benoît Trémoulinas and Éver Banega are going to train this afternoon and we will see how they are.
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
I am not going to choose my lineup with an eye on the weekend's game against Fiorentina; first we have to focus on top spot in the group and avoiding the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona. I would also like to finish the group stage undefeated.
We have come through a difficult group. We are growing as a team and the players are growing individually; they are a good mixture of youngsters and experienced players. Everybody talks about Juventus, but we are only six points off first place in Serie A.
Weekend results
Deportivo 1-1 Sevilla (Lucas 22; Iborra 76)
The 2015 UEFA Europa League winners are unbeaten in three games since matchday five. Emery's side nonetheless remain without an away Liga victory since 23 May.
Lazio 0-2 Juventus (Gentiletti 7 og, Dybala 32)
Paulo Dybala created the opener before scoring his seventh league goal of the season as Juventus recorded their fifth consecutive Serie A win.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Sevilla: DWWLLW
Juventus: WWWWWD
Reporter's view: Nick Aitken (@UEFAcomNickA)
Unable to progress to the knockout stages and tenth in the Liga, Sevilla are determined to salvage some pride by clinching a place in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 – a competition they have won for the past two seasons. "We need to show we can bounce back," said Emery. "We're missing something and we're duty-bound to do better, but I'm still optimistic."
Did you know?
Fernando Llorente scored 23 Serie A goals in two campaigns with Juventus, landing back-to-back league titles. Find out more in our match background.