THE BENCH HAS PLAYED ITS PART IN THE THREE CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES IN NERVIÓN

Julen Lopetegui hasn't stopped saying it. With games coming every three days, it's not possible to always play the same starting XI. The key to success is knowing how to use the players you have, especially the three substitutes per game that you can make. Moreover, the whole squad is necessary, especially when you have to take into account injuries and suspensions. Therefore, if something has become evident over the course of the season so far and which has paid dividends, is the importance of those players who have came on as substitutes.

When talking about this sort of thing in football, you can't always come up with statistics as the way in which a match changes, can't always be reflected with data; but with feelings and emotions instead. We were left in little doubt about the impact of the substitutes during last Sunday's fixture against Getafe, as the game changed in the second half in favour of Sevilla. To prove this, we can point to the fact that it was substitute Óliver Torres' pass that led to Chicharito opening the scoring. Just under 72 hours beforehand and it was the turn of Munir, who came off the bench in the second half against Dudelange, and came off the pitch at the end with a goal and an assist under his belt.

Franco Vázquez has scored twice from coming off the bench; while Munir has a goal and an assist

The trilogy of games over the past 10 days finishes with the hard-fought win over Levante, also in Nervión. This time, it was Luuk de Jong who was the hero after coming off the bench. Over the course of the season so far, these two goals and two assists that have been spoke about, aren't the only ones that the players who started the game on the bench, have achieved. Beforehand, Franco Vázquez put the team 3-1 up against Real Sociedad, not long after coming on to the field. Away from home, Éver Banega also shone after entering the field, with an assist to Munir in the match in Baku against Qarabag. Before all of this however, was Franco Vázquez's goal in the first home game of the season against RC Celta - another one he scored after coming off the bench.

Overall, for those players who have not started in the games but have been brought on, they have managed to rack up an impressive four goals and three assists. This, as well, is without analysing their work once they enter the pitch and the fact that their fresh legs, bring an extra dynamic to the team's play. This Wednesday, in the Mestalla, Sevilla FC will come up against Valencia in what will be another demanding game. There's no doubt that, once more, the changes that Lopetegui will make will be critical to helping the team, and the outcome of the game.