Nervión cae en picado

nasri

El último mes del Sevilla está siendo bastante malo, por no decir catastrófico. En marzo seguía vivo en la Champions League y partía con ventaja en su eliminatoria. Además, mantenía opciones de soñar incluso con la Liga, cuando Madrid, Barça y Sevilla estaban en un manojo de puntos.

Ahora las cosas son muy diferentes. Tras la eliminación en Champions frente al Leicester, los hispalenses han ido de más a menos. En Liga tampoco le van bien las cosas, y es que las últimas derrotas y empates suponen demasiados puntos que han dejado escapar. El Atlético de Madrid ya le ha doblegado y se le escapa a 3 puntos, por tanto, ni siquiera la próxima edición de la Champions la tiene asegurada. Las derrotas en los duelos directos (Atlético y Barcelona) han supuesto un duro varapalo para los de Nervión. Si las cosas terminaran así, tendría que pelearla en la fase previa. Pero, aún podría irle peor, porque el Villarreal viene lanzado y, si continúa dejando escapar puntos, el submarino podría soñar con darle caza.

Este bache ha llegado en el peor momento de la temporada y ha sido consecuencia de diversos factores extradeportivos que han alterado la estabilidad del equipo. Por ejemplo, las sanciones del Comité Antiviolencia; la marcha de Monchi; y los rumores que sitúan a Sampaoli en la selección albiceleste. Además, a nivel deportivo, el rendimiento de algunos de sus jugadores estrella no está siendo el mejor. Nasri no pasa por su mejor momento, Vietto ya ni siquiera cuenta para el entrenador o Iborra no tiene el gol salvador que tanto le ha caracterizado.

¿Tarde para reaccionar? No, porque clasificarse para la Champions es el objetivo del Sevilla y de él depende para conseguirlo. Seguiría siendo un buen premio para un equipo que ha desplegado una excelente campaña, aunque un cuarto puesto se le puede antojar escaso después de haberle puesto la miel en los labios con premios más golosos.

¿Puede ganar la Liga el Sevilla?

nasriTras haber disputado 2 tercios del campeonato, el Sevilla es el único que aguanta el ritmo del Madrid y del Barça. Aún queda mucho por disputar, pero es inevitable meter a los hispalenses en la pugna de la Liga. ¿Podrá dar el campanazo? He aquí varios argumentos a favor y en contra para una posible conquista del título nacional.

1º) Real Madrid – 55 puntos (1 partido menos)
2º) Barcelona – 54 puntos
3º) Sevilla- 52 puntos

 A favor

  • Da la cara en partidos importantes. El Madrid perdió su racha histórica de imbatibilidad en el Pizjuán, donde también cayó el Atlético. Además, en los derbis sigue demostrando ser el rey de la capital hispalense.
  • Nuevos fichajes. Monchi es Midas, todo lo que toca lo convierte en oro. El equipo tenía todo cubierto en Navidades, pero lo ha mejorado, más si cabe, con la incorporación de Jovetic.
  • Centro del campo goleador. Iborra, Nasri, Sarabia son centrocampistas con mucho potencial ofensivo, eso se traduce en resultados.
  • Mejora fuera del Pizjuán. El año pasado las victorias fuera de casa fueron su asignatura pendiente. Este año, con los mismos resultados en su estadio y una mejora a domicilio, han logrado auparse en la clasificación.
  • Motivación. El efecto Sampaoli funciona, el equipo se lo cree y transmite esa confianza clave.

En contra

  • El calendario es, a priori, el más complicado de los 3 de arriba. En las últimas jornadas visita el Calderón, Mestalla, el Camp Nou y el Bernabéu.
  • El precio de la Champions. Seguir en Europa puede salir caro, sobre todo si algún rival (como a priori puede pasarle al Barça) se quedara fuera y se centrara exclusivamente en la Liga.
  • Victorias por la mínima. El Sevilla ha ganado 16 partidos en Liga, pero 11 han sido por un solo tanto de diferencia. Si la suerte le da la espalda, puede dejarse muchos puntos por el camino.
  • Biris. Los problemas con los Biris y su huelga de animación, pueden mermar el rendimiento del equipo. La plantilla los necesita.
  • Presión. El equipo ha conquistado las últimas 3 Europa Leagues, pero en la península no es el amo. Subirse a lo alto de la clasificación al final del campeonato, podría darle vértigo.

Opciones tiene, y muchas. No sabremos si el Sevilla ganará la Liga, pero si de algo estamos seguros es de que llegará al final peleando por el título.

 

 

Why are Samir Nasri’s moments of magic so few and far between?

In an enthralling second-half Champions League tie, Manchester City winger Samir Nasri was the difference, with the Frenchman showcasing his true ability to score one goal and create another as the Sky Blues qualified for the last-16 of the competition at the expense of Serie A giants AS Roma.

But such moments in a Manchester City shirt have been rare, to say the least. Nasri’s goal against Roma, a fiercely struck effort from outside the area that went in via the post, was amazingly only his first goal of the season. The 27-year-old had played 14 games in all competitions without scoring prior to Wednesday night, and it’s not good enough for a man of his calibre.

The French international has scored just four goals in his last 31 Premier League games, and considering the sensational efforts he’s been seen scoring in the past, many question why Nasri can’t fire in a City shirt.

His volley against Sunderland in last season’s Capital One Cup final is one of his finest moments for the Sky Blues, and he’s playing in a side with a manager who only wants his team to attack, so he should have the freedom to express himself.

Solely based on personal performance, last season was an average campaign for the former Marseilles playmaker, scoring seven goals in 34 games. Considering the defending champions paid more than £24M to procure his signature back in 2011, supporters won’t be feeling they’ve got their money’s worth from Nasri, and it doesn’t appear likely of changing any time soon.

It could be argued that he’s struggled to express himself in a side full of world-class individuals (Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero), while at former sides Arsenal and Marseilles he was seen as the most important player on the pitch, which allowed him to truly excel as the focal point.

Nasri is still creating opportunities for his teammates, however, but rarely is he taking the game by the scruff of its neck and showing his individual brilliance like he did against Roma, Sunderland etc. City hardly struggle when the Frenchman isn’t in the side, but their form has dipped in the past with David Silva and Sergio Aguero available. The Frenchman just doesn’t have that influence on the team, and many would argue that he’s expendable.

With 23 goals scored in 145 games in all competitions for Manchester City, Nasri just isn’t contributing enough to the side on a regular basis, which is a shame given how much ability he does have. In a City shirt, it will always be “what if?” with Nasri.

Euro Round-up: Nasri and Floro Flores claim decisive goals as season nears close

With last weekend’s footballing action now firmly in the record books, titles were decided, European qualification spots were allocated and some teams unfortunately lost their places in their respective league by securing a position in the much feared relegation spots – and several players bagged themselves some nice point tallies in our Fantasy Football competition.

Arguably the most intense of the aforementioned scraps came in Italy’s Serie A, where a supposed relegation six-pointer between hosts Bologna and Catania ended up respectively irrelevant, owing to victories for the other two sides battling to avoid the drop, Sassuolo and Chievo.

Relegation run-ins can often hold a potential goldmine for Fantasy Football managers, and Sassuolo striker Antonio Floro Flores did himself some real good in his game, grabbing a brace resulting in his best individual weekly performance of the season. He bagged 40 points for himself – not bad considering the previous five weeks only saw him add 30 points to his total combined. Those vital three for his club also ensure they have survived their first ever season in Serie A – all in all a great outing for the former Italy U-21 international!

There was another particularly huge battle in Europe on Sunday afternoon, however, as Man City and Liverpool went into their respective fixtures knowing that their captain could be lifting the English Premier League trophy following the full-time whistle. Man City have won the trophy once, in 2012, while Liverpool are yet to lift the Premier League trophy since the competition’s inauguration in 1992. Ultimately, the Citizens were to come out on top, with midfielder Samir Nasri putting the champions-elect in front before half-time, earning himself 40 points throughout the game.

Liverpool were ultimately disappointed despite coming from behind to beat a plucky Newcastle side, and indeed their striker Luis Suarez – who had seemed destined to leave Anfield last summer – has been the most impressive performer in the world this season in relation to fantasy football points, ending the domestic season with a whopping 740 – a full 45 clear of his closest rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid. However, Suarez failed to add to that tally during the Newcastle game – goalscorers Daniels Agger and Sturridge grabbed 20 points each from their exploits in front of the onion bag though.

In Germany, the Bundesliga title may have been sewn up for quite some time but runners-up Borussia Dortmund enjoyed the team performance of the week, with striker Robert Lewandowski signing off on the campaign with two goals of his own, also nabbing himself another 40 points in the process.

One of the big matches in Spain this week saw Celta Vigo striker Charles score both goals as the Sky Blues ended Real Madrid’s hopes of catching city rivals and Champions League final opponents Atletico in the race for the title. Their 2-0 win represented a surprise to many, with Charles earning himself 40 points of his own to put him right in the mix at the top of the week’s best performers in Europe.