Features
MIÉ 14.09.2016
Sevilla FC have undergone a major summer overhaul, with the successful side that clinched a third consecutive Europa League back in May barely recognisable after coach Unai Emery left the club and was followed out of the exit door by the likes of Ever Banega, Kevin Gameiro, Fernando Llorente, Coke, Ciro Immobile and Grzegorz Krychowiak.
The recruitment team – which is headed by Ramon Rodriguez Verdejo, who is more commonly known as Monchi – worked in overdrive in a bid to track down suitable replacements for the new campaign. Based on the club's opening couple of fixtures, the hard work is definitely reaping rewards.
Pablo Sarabia, Luciano Vietto, Franco Vazquez, Wissam Ben Yedder, Hiroshi Kiyotake, Samir Nasri, Gabriel Mercado, Joaquin Correa, Matias Kranevitter, Ganso and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu have all been sworn in alongside new manager Jorge Sampaoli and many of the players have already left their mark, especially on the goalscoring charts.
Sevilla have racked up eight goals in three matches so far in LaLiga Santander, and seven of them have been scored by newcomers to the club this season.
All of the Andalusian outfit's goals in their astonishing 6-4 win over RCD Espanyol on Matchday 1 were scored by new signings. Sarabia opened his team's account, before Vietto chipped in with a first-half brace. After the break, Vazquez, Ben Yedder and Kiyotake got their names on the scoresheet to seal a swashbuckling victory for Sampaoli's side.
Following an unexpected scoreless draw in their second game, against Villarreal CF, things were looking bleak against UD Las Palmas on Matchday 3. The islanders had stunned the Sanchez-Pizjuan by taking an early lead and had Sevilla staring down the barrel of a rare home defeat until the dying minutes, when Sarabia struck again to draw the hosts level, this time with a penalty. Then, in stoppage time, academy starlet Carlos Fernandez notched a dramatic winner – the club's only goal of the season to date not to be scored by a summer recruit – to snatch all three points.
After facing Juventus in the Champions League, Sampaoli's men return to domestic action against SD Eibar on Saturday at 18:30. The Basques should beware, because Sevilla's contingent of new boys – Vietto, Sarabia, Ben Yedder and co. – are sure to be targeting adding to their LaLiga Santander tally.
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