Sevilla Coach Praises Real Madrid Ahead of Bernabeu Clash

Sevilla coach Luis Garcia Plaza spoke in the preview of LaLiga matchday 9. His team visits the Bernabeu this Sunday to face Real Madrid, one place above the red-and-white side in the standings, so a win against their main Champions League rival is vital. Starting with the feelings he has about his team in this new season.

"The team is having a very good start to the season with eight matches of very good form, competing in every match, adding points in practically all of them, and now to continue at a difficult field, against a difficult rival, where we have not won since 2008. Let's see if we can change that dynamic," the coach began.

He also delved into that exact point: Sevilla's 18-year streak without beating the Whites at home. "I have not used that data, but maybe I will use it. With them I believe I have told them something like that at some point: that we have gone a long time without scoring points there, even when they have been Europa League champions or have qualified for the Champions League.

The difficulty is maximum; they are top players, a top coach, and a top club, but we are going to compete. We have set that norm and that dogma for ourselves since the first match."

Finally, he spoke about Real Madrid, mentioning their recent comeback against Roma in the Champions League, when Jose Mourinho's team was down 3-1 and, in less than 10 minutes, turned the scoreline to 3-4 in the Italian capital to take three very valuable points.

"Madrid is capable of doing what they did the other day against Roma. I don't think any other team can turn around a 3-1 home game against a rival of Roma's level. Madrid has several phases: first, there are matches they play very well, and then they completely dismantle you, but there are matches where you tie them up, and in individual quality they are so good that Carlos Espi and Endrick come out. We go with maximum enthusiasm, and we have to play a perfect match," Garcia Plaza concluded.

Now, the Andalusian team will look to end the long, negative streak that has followed it for almost two decades at the Bernabeu. A victory would mean getting within just one point of the Champions League places, a competition they have not played since the 2023/24 season. But it will not be easy at all, since the merengues will come out with a knife between their teeth to not lose ground in their pursuit of Barcelona, which destroyed Real Betis on Saturday.