So my prediction was a bit off to say the least. I really thought we were going to go mental and absolutely crush Numancia. I mean, our form, our strikers, our defense, our midfield, everything about us over the past week has been second to none. I really thought it was due for us to blow someone out. Then again, we have really struggled against the 2 other newly promoted sides we played this year losing 1-0 at home to Málaga and just about edging Sporting Gijón 4-3. Today was no different, we didn’t struggle per sé, but anyone that just saw the scoreline and not the game would think otherwise. I knew the match wasn’t going to be easy, remember - This is the same team, the only team, to beat Barça this year in the league.We basically completely dominated the whole match, from start to finish we were not going to be outdone by the visitors from Castilla y León. We’ve learned from our mistakes, never take these newly promoted sides lightly, they want the victory more than we do, they have more to prove after all, their hopes of staying alive in the Primera División are relying upon it.
Today’s lineup for us was a bit different. Luisfa and Freddie started up top, Navas and Capel on their wings, Renato as the attacking midfielder, Duscher - the opposite. Young David Prieto and Escudé held down the back line while Serbian international Dragutinovic was at left back and Colombian international Mosquera (who we all thought was going to be sold) started at right back. Between the sticks was up and comer Javi Varas who replaced the suspended Andrés Palop.
We started the game with loads of energy, with Navas and Capel bursting down the wings and putting in their dangerous crosses as usual. Nothing came out of it but we were the better team by miles. Numancia had a couple chances but Varas, who was absolutely solid throughout the match kept the score level at 0-0.The first half was like Christmas Eve - cards being given out everywhere. It did however, end scoreless. Before the second half began Romaric was brought in for Duscher who had a relatively quiet night seeing as there wasn’t much to do, and Squillaci was brought in for David Prieto who made a couple little mistakes that lead to some harmless Numancia breaks.
The second half though is when the drama really unfolded. 5 minutes after the re-start, Cisma was given his second yellow card and Numancia was now down to 10 men. After this both sides were going at each other with everything, tensions were high, and 2 minutes later Juanra went in with the highest two-footed tackle (on Capel) I’ve ever seen in my life, how he escaped without even getting a yellow card at least is way beyond me… Capel went off to the sideline in what appeared to be a bad injury but then again I realized that Diego does over-dramatize everything. He wasn’t okay, but he did play on. What added insult to injury was the Numancia player that went over to Capel while he was laying on the floor holding his leg (like he so often does!!) and slapped his face a few times. Now I’m not talking full out assault, but it was a bitch slap let’s just say. Shocking stuff.
On the 60 minute mark I was scared as Kanouté had to be substituted because of a shoulder injury he picked up on the previous play. My boy Chevantón (yeahyeah!) replaced him and made an instant impact when he just missed the end of Navas’ cross by mere milimetres. 15 minutes after this Fabiano showed us exactly why he had all of Europe’s biggest clubs lining up for his signature. He threw himself at a Navas cross and did a “bicycleta” missing the net by no more than a priest misses Sunday mass.
It didn’t matter though as in the 81st minute Navas once again (as always) put in a perfect cross on which Fabiano, Cheva, Capel and Renato were waiting to pounce on, and the latter of them actually doing so and scoring. It was the Brazilian’s eighth goal this season - a team best, and he picked a perfect time to get it too. Just as it looked like the team was going to get booed off the pitch again at the end of the match, Renato got the goal that put the pain aside. The Sánchez Pizjuán exploded as all the Sevillistas knew the match was over. When the final whistle was blown, that was the re-assurance.
After this somewhat unconvincing victory at home we are second (pending Real’s result tomorrow anyway) and in that vital direct Champions League spot. We also now look ahead to Wednesday’s clash with Valencia when we take a trip down to the ever-historic Mastalla for the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals. This is the tricky part, both of us are playing some pretty decent football and it will be a highly entertaining fixture, no doubt about that one
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