SEVILLA
3rd in Spanish league
Champions League pedigree: Debut appearance in competition
THE LOW DOWN:
They may be novices when it comes to the Champions League, but only a fool would dismiss the threat Sevilla will pose to Europe's established elite this season.
Coach Juande Ramos has built an attractive and effective team in his time at the Andalusia-based club and their impressive back-to-back UEFA Cup wins in 2006 and 2007 mean they arrived on the Champions League stage as strong contenders from the off. With bags of European experience to call upon and a decent group stage draw, they will be a side to watch in the second half of the competition.
TECHNICAL AREA:
Juande Ramos hit the headlines in August as he apparently turned down the chance to take over as Tottenham Hotspur manager and it's easy to see why he stayed loyal to the club that has allowed him to establish a reputation as one of Europe's finest coaches.
Combining entertainment with a cutting edge, Sevilla's 4-4-2 line-up has overpowered some of the biggest name in Europe over the past couple of years and it will be fascinating to see how Ramos and his team fair after making a step up to face the game's true giants.
WOW FACTOR:
Fredi Kanoute has been a storming success in his two years as the club's leading forward and even though there were rumours linking him with a move back to England during the summer, the leggy forward was more than content to stay at Sevilla and signed a new contract to prove as much. Bursting with pace and skill, he is a handful for any defender.
The other key man in the Sevilla game plan is Danish playmaker, Christian Poulsen. Capable of dictating a game from the centre of the park, his all-round ability has been crucial to the Juande Ramos success story and has won widespread praise from the Spanish media since his move from Schalke in 2006.
THE BIG BUY:
It looked as if Sevilla would be benefitting from a cash windfall as the transfer saga surrounding defender Daniel Alves seemed destined to end with a big money move, but Juande Ramos didn't get the chance to spend big as he might have expected as the proposed transfer fell through.
Instead, Sevilla invested in potential by signing Milan midfielder Seydou Keita and Belgian winger Tom De Mul. Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz arrived on loan from Chelsea.
THE TENDER SPOT:
The tragic passing of Sevilla star Antonio Puerta stunned the football world and it would be natural for all who played alongside the likeable Spaniard to be left reeling by his loss. Yet Ramos and his players owe it to their fallen team mate to excel in the Champions League so Sevilla's pain may just give them divine inspiration.
They tend to rely heavily on Kanoute to finish off their neat passing football, so they may have a problem if the big striker was out for a considerable period of time.
HOT GOSSIP:
After a summer of frenzied transfer speculation, Daniel Alves was forced to accept that he will be staying at Sevilla for the first half of this season at least.
The Brazilian's price tag of around £25m scared off the advances of Real Madrid and Chelsea, but it is easy to see why they were so keen to land this brilliant attack-minded full-back. Ramos now has to get this Brazilian's mind back on the job for Sevilla and if he shines in the Champions League, Alves' stock should rise again.
The future of the coach must also be in doubt as he is known to want to manage in England and may yet end up at Tottenham at some point during the season. If the inspirational Ramos leaves, it would be a hammer blow Sevilla couldn't recover from.
IDEAL LINE-UP:
Palop, Hinkle, Dragutinovic, Escude, Alves, Navas, Poulsen, Keita, Adriano, Fabiano, Kanoute
THE VERDICT:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is among those who believes Sevilla are real contenders for the Champions League prize and it would be quite a story if these rookies could lift the trophy in honour of the sadly departed Antonio Puerta.
3rd in Spanish league
Champions League pedigree: Debut appearance in competition
THE LOW DOWN:
They may be novices when it comes to the Champions League, but only a fool would dismiss the threat Sevilla will pose to Europe's established elite this season.
Coach Juande Ramos has built an attractive and effective team in his time at the Andalusia-based club and their impressive back-to-back UEFA Cup wins in 2006 and 2007 mean they arrived on the Champions League stage as strong contenders from the off. With bags of European experience to call upon and a decent group stage draw, they will be a side to watch in the second half of the competition.
TECHNICAL AREA:
Juande Ramos hit the headlines in August as he apparently turned down the chance to take over as Tottenham Hotspur manager and it's easy to see why he stayed loyal to the club that has allowed him to establish a reputation as one of Europe's finest coaches.
Combining entertainment with a cutting edge, Sevilla's 4-4-2 line-up has overpowered some of the biggest name in Europe over the past couple of years and it will be fascinating to see how Ramos and his team fair after making a step up to face the game's true giants.
WOW FACTOR:
Fredi Kanoute has been a storming success in his two years as the club's leading forward and even though there were rumours linking him with a move back to England during the summer, the leggy forward was more than content to stay at Sevilla and signed a new contract to prove as much. Bursting with pace and skill, he is a handful for any defender.
The other key man in the Sevilla game plan is Danish playmaker, Christian Poulsen. Capable of dictating a game from the centre of the park, his all-round ability has been crucial to the Juande Ramos success story and has won widespread praise from the Spanish media since his move from Schalke in 2006.
THE BIG BUY:
It looked as if Sevilla would be benefitting from a cash windfall as the transfer saga surrounding defender Daniel Alves seemed destined to end with a big money move, but Juande Ramos didn't get the chance to spend big as he might have expected as the proposed transfer fell through.
Instead, Sevilla invested in potential by signing Milan midfielder Seydou Keita and Belgian winger Tom De Mul. Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz arrived on loan from Chelsea.
THE TENDER SPOT:
The tragic passing of Sevilla star Antonio Puerta stunned the football world and it would be natural for all who played alongside the likeable Spaniard to be left reeling by his loss. Yet Ramos and his players owe it to their fallen team mate to excel in the Champions League so Sevilla's pain may just give them divine inspiration.
They tend to rely heavily on Kanoute to finish off their neat passing football, so they may have a problem if the big striker was out for a considerable period of time.
HOT GOSSIP:
After a summer of frenzied transfer speculation, Daniel Alves was forced to accept that he will be staying at Sevilla for the first half of this season at least.
The Brazilian's price tag of around £25m scared off the advances of Real Madrid and Chelsea, but it is easy to see why they were so keen to land this brilliant attack-minded full-back. Ramos now has to get this Brazilian's mind back on the job for Sevilla and if he shines in the Champions League, Alves' stock should rise again.
The future of the coach must also be in doubt as he is known to want to manage in England and may yet end up at Tottenham at some point during the season. If the inspirational Ramos leaves, it would be a hammer blow Sevilla couldn't recover from.
IDEAL LINE-UP:
Palop, Hinkle, Dragutinovic, Escude, Alves, Navas, Poulsen, Keita, Adriano, Fabiano, Kanoute
THE VERDICT:
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is among those who believes Sevilla are real contenders for the Champions League prize and it would be quite a story if these rookies could lift the trophy in honour of the sadly departed Antonio Puerta.
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