Predicted Sevilla XI in the press to face Alaves in Matchday 12

Sevilla FC

Vitoria have been one of the revelations of LaLiga. They are 11th in the table and just 5 points behind the Sevilla side - 17 for Sevilla against 12 for Alaves-. The Basques' aim is to extend the gap to the relegation places and settle into the comfortable middle of the table. Sevilla, meanwhile, are looking to spend another week in the European places. At the start of the season both clubs shared the same target of staying up; today, both are casting a cautious eye towards Europe. 

Aside from the late doubts over a few players such as Isaac Romero - who has returned to ball work but only on his own -, the main question surrounding Garcia Plaza's chosen XI is the system. Against Getafe, the Madrid-born coach stuck with the 4-2-4, just as he had done in the previous home game against Osasuna. Against the Navarre side it worked; against the Azulones, it did not. This time, most outlets are leaning towards a 4-2-3-1, the shape used most often so far.

That would bring Kochorashvili or Guiridi back into the starting XI, with the Georgian slightly favoured. After a difficult week physically for Isaac Romero, Lucas Stassin is the striker most likely to lead the line. In addition, the academy graduate has tended to start alongside Robbie Ure or Stassin, or in the No 10 role, never as the lone centre-forward. The other pieces of the puzzle seem clear: goalkeeper Vlachodimos and his back four of gold, with Juan Iglesias, Kike Salas, Castrin and captain Gabriel Suazo. Fofana and Agoume in the pivot, Kocho or Guiridi as the player closest to the box, and out wide, Ejuke or Ruben Vargas and Felix Correia. The Portuguese winger is not expected to drop out of the team unless there is a major surprise, but with Ejuke and Vargas the debate remains open. The Nigerian has been the chosen option in the last two matchdays, but his performances have not been decisive enough to settle the issue. Quite the opposite. There are four absentees: Marcao, Miguel Sierra and Peque through injury, and Manu Bueno through suspension.

Onefootball believe Kochorashvili is back in the side and will join Agoume and Fofana

57

Agoumé
2.640.000€-450.000€5

J11

8

J10

4

J9

2

J8

4

J7

MD

00

51

Fofana
7.490.000€+50.000€2

J11

9

J10

2

J9

12

J8

13

J7

MD

31

 Isaac Romero's possible absence opens up a range of options. If the chosen route is to use two strikers, Stassin and Robbie Ure will be the pair up front, leaving Isaac out of the picture. Onefootball are backing Sevilla to line up with a single striker again; Stassin is ahead of Ure in both form and standing. The No 10 spot is between Kochorashvili and Guiridi with the Georgian the final choice. Completing the front three would be, according to Onefootball, Correia on the left and Vargas on the right. Just behind the front four, the Agoume-Fofana duo would operate as the holding midfield pair. There is nothing more to say about the defence and goalkeeper than the line made up of Juan Iglesias, Castrin, Kike Iglesias, Suazo and Odysseas Vlachodimos. Those five have been Sevilla's biggest certainties so far this season.

Onefootball's XI: Odysseas Vlachodimos; Juan Iglesias, Kike Salas, Castrin, Suazo; Agoume, Fofana, Kochorashvili; Vargas, Correia and Stassin.

Correo de Andalucia surprises everyone with a midfield shake-up

26

Guridi
650.000€+30.000€-

J11

-

J10

-

J9

2

J8

4

J7

MD

01

27

Giorgi Kochorashvili
1.720.000€-80.000€3

J11

-

J10

-

J9

5

J8

3

J7

MD

10

One of the reasons for the Matchday 11 defeat at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez was the chaos that reigned and which Sevilla's midfield failed to bring under control. The absence of a third midfielder did the Andalusians plenty of damage. On top of that, the decision to give up control of the game by sacrificing Kocho did not translate into a greater ability to create danger. They edged possession narrowly (they had 53% of it), and registered fewer shots on target than Getafe. The first time Garcia Plaza went with two strikers was in a home game, but in this case, according to the southern outlet, the fact that this is again a home fixture will not matter in the slightest: there will be only one striker and it will be Lucas Stassin. But the striking thing about the XI drawn up by Correo de Andalucia is the role change it predicts. It sees Guiridi starting in the pivot and Fofana playing as the No 10. Kochorashvili missed the last training session after travelling to Toledo to say a final farewell in Toledo to Jesus De Miguel and, in his coach's words,