Sevilla

[kyan]

As soon as I posted this Kerzhakov was played through into so much space in front of goal by Maresca and he placed it on target, keeper got a touch but it bounced in in the 93rd minute.

2-0 at FT

[Pat Murphy]

There's been a lot of reports on Kanoute's fitness and Juande Ramos even admitted that he'll have to rest Kanoute a lot because his fitness is failing. This could be very bad for Sevilla but they'll have to hope that Kerzhakov, Chevanton and L.Fabiano can cover for him more.

[Trim]

Well done Sevilla. Good win.
Nice to see Kanoute on the scorer sheet.
Sad to hear about that injury / fitness drop.
Sevilla need him.

[Trim]

Primera Liga side Sevilla have asked Uefa offer them a different date for their Uefa Cup quarter-final home leg against Tottenham Hotspur.

The game is currently scheduled to be played on 5th April, but that coincides with a major religious festival in Seville, when floats, processions and more than a million people are expected to throng the city.

A spokesman for Sevilla said: "We have asked the Spanish Football Federation to request a new date from Uefa.

"It's all down to security reasons. And we have informed Tottenham."

Uefa have also confirmed that the Spanish Football Federation have contacted them about the possibility of switching the date of the match.

The matter is now in the hands of Uefa's professional football division, which will meet this week to discuss the issue.

"There will be several meetings. There is no deadline for us to give an answer," a Uefa spokesman said.

"But Uefa will try to accommodate both parties [Sevilla and Tottenham], to get the very best decision."

Goal.com - Sevilla Request New Date For Spurs Match

[Pat Murphy]

Sevilla's request to have the first leg of their Uefa Cup quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur switched has been rejected.

The Spanish Football Federation had submitted a request to Uefa, backed by the club, to alter the 5th April date for the match.

The date is a religious holiday and Seville's town council felt the game against Spurs would impinge on the city's Easter celebrations.

But Uefa has decided the match must go ahead on 5th April, with the return at White Hart Lane taking place a week later.

Holders Sevilla had reached the quarter-finals with an extra-time victory over Shakhtar Donetsk, while Spurs saw off Braga in the last round.

from Sky Sports

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REJECTED!

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Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop has claimed a 12-month extension to his current contract.

When Palop joined the club from Valencia on a four-year deal, he established a clause which entitled him to an extra year if he played a required number of matches in his first two seasons at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

He has now completed that number and is tied to the club until June 2010.

Palop was recently a goalscoring hero as he helped Sevilla to come from behind and beat Shakhtar Donetsk in the Uefa Cup.

Goal.com - New Sevilla Deal For Palop

[Pat Murphy]

Palop's a bit flappy sometimes but he pulls off some great saves. Sevilla won't mind that he gets an extra year added on his contract.

[Trim]

Sevilla (3rd, 61 pts) v Recreativo (7th, 50pts)
When: 22:00 CET - Saturday, May 12, 2007
Where: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville

Sevilla have no doubt that defeat at Real Madrid last weekend has not ruled them out of the title race and are determined to put their bid back on the rails against Recre this weekend.

Juande Ramos' side were undone by Guti in the Bernabéu after the substitute produced two stunning passes to undo all of the visitors' work in the opening half.

While the Madrid-biased media immediately ruled the Andalucian upstarts out of the running for the championship, the fact remains that they are only four points behind the leaders still.

It is almost as if the pundits had been fully expecting Sevilla to fall away and have actually been surprised just how long their challenge has lasted.

Barça and Madrid maybe the more attractive clubs to follow because of the rivalry and history, but a good result this weekend could see Ramos' side lift themselves truly back into contention.

Victory is a must, in a game that will be over-shadowed by the club's appearance in the UEFA Cup final in midweek, because the top two also have home matches that they are expected to win.

Staying Quiet

While Madrid continue to talk up their chances and Barça opt to lay low after their midweek cup humiliation, Sevilla are not talking about the title.

Oddly, Ramos' side face a very similar run-in to Madrid with the two teams facing Recre, Deportivo, Zaragoza and Real Mallorca in their last five matches.

Recreativo recognise their role as decisive one, but with their own agenda to focus on will be looking to pick up points against both teams.

After winning promotion at the end of the last season to the top flight, many predicted a campaign of struggle and it was thought that they would make a swift return to the second tier.

Instead, coach Marcelino García Torral has overseen one of the season's success stories and Recre's push for a European place next term is on a par with any of the title-chasing clubs' performances.

Revelations

WIth a very limited budget, the trainer has moulded a very strong unit spearheaded by strikers that have already attracted interest from the more glamorous clubs.

Uche Ikechuckwu has been a revelation and has continued his superb form in la Segunda A this term, stunning several top flight defences with his pace and strength.

Alongside him has been Florent Sinama-Pongolle, who has made the loan switch from Liverpool permanent after showing why the Reds purchased him in the first place.

Instead of scrapping it out with the bottom clubs, Recre are sitting in seventh place and are confident of over-hauling Atlético de Madrid, who appear determined to throw their season away in the last few matches.

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla: Ramos is determined to keep his team's dream of the title alive and will not rest any players for this encounter. The only players that cannot be considered are Ernesto Chevantón, who is suspended, and Javi Navarro, Andreas Hinkel and Adriano, who are all injured. Aitor Ocio is back after being suspended in midweek for the cup encounter with Depor, and so too is Luis Fabiano who missed the Wednesday match with a knock.

Probable Starting XI: Palop; Daniel Alves, Aitor Ocio, Escudé, David; Jesús Navas, Poulsen, Martí, Puerta; Luis Fabiano, Kanouté.

Recreativo: Marcelino has very few injury doubts, with the only certainty being goalkeeper Javier López Vallejo who is out with tendonitis and will be replaced between the sticks by Bertran Laquait.

Probable Starting XI: Laquait; Merino, Pablo Amo, Mario, Poli; Juanma, Jesús Vázquez, Barber, Cazorla; Uche, Sinama-Pongolle.

Goal.com - Match Preview - La Liga Preview: Sevilla - Recreativo

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Sevilla will get a good win.

[Pat Murphy]

Final Score was 2-1 to Sevilla, Maresca with another great goal in the first half and both Sevilla and Recre diving near the end to get a penalty each which they both converted.

Here's Maresca's goal, another good one:

Video Sevilla-Huelva 1-0 Maresca Season 2006-0 - Sevilla-Huelva, 1-0, Maresca, Season, 2006-07 - Dailymotion Share Your Videos

[Trim]

Good goal, nice volley.

[nvn04]

Agent hints at Alves departure

Daniel Alves' agent has put Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Milan on red alert after suggesting the player could leave Sevilla.

The four European giants are all known admirers of the 24-year-old Brazilian ace and will be monitoring the situation closely after Jose Rodriguez Baster said that now would be the perfect time for his client to take on a new challenge with one of the world's top clubs.

Alves has been courted by many clubs throughout Europe after some impressive performances for Sevilla this season and Baster says now is the time for the club to cash in on their prize asset.

"This type of player always ends up moving because that is the way the market dictates it," the agent told Punto Radio. "One has to be realistic and recognise that the best players always end up playing for the biggest clubs.

"I am not saying that Sevilla are not a big club, but they are a level behind some on both a sporting and an economic front.

clubcall.com

Too bad, Sevilla have been so good the last couple of seasons, but I suppose it's inevitable that he'll move on someday. Where do you think he'll end up?

[kyan]

That's a massive shame, I think he'll end up at Liverpool but he'll probably play RW there, Milan is a good option, replacing Cafu for club & country....

Barcelona still need FBs, and Madrid are always linked

It sounds like he's leaving though.

[Sven]

I want, though I don't mind Ferreira any more at rb.

[kennethlindheim]

He will problaby be a Liverpool player.