First team

MERCADO: “THE WHOLE CITY STOPS FOR THE SEVILLE DERBY, IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT”

04/01/2018

The Sevilla club-captain recalled his goals against our eternal rivals and the atmosphere of his first derby on A Balón Parado

Gabriel Mercado was the star of the first A Balón Parado of the year. The SFC TV program mainly focused on #ElGranDerbi (The Seville Derby) and the Argentine brought with him some great memories. Etched in the minds of all Sevillistas is the full-back's goal in last season's away clash, as well as the return clash in Nervión: "What I remember from my first derby is that it started hard-fought, touch, with strong challenges. Remembering the goal: it was after Nasri's free-kick, from our left-hand side. It's a beautiful memory having scored my first goal with Sevilla in a classic".

"It's a beautiful memory having scored my first goal with Sevilla in a classic"

It was a huge goal for the Sevilla player: "I scored in River vs. Boca but it was a friendly so I had never officially scored in a classic rivalry. I had that feeling in my gut, for a centre-back it's difficult to score and to do it in a derby was an enormous happiness".

Aside from the game itself, Mercado also recalled the Nervión atmosphere: "The journey to the hotel impressed me. A lot of people, singing, supporting us. There I felt the support and the importance that the derby has in Seville, and then what you experienced on the field was also magnificent, it's something unique. It was a pleasant surprise; I knew it was intense but not that much. The city stops, the atmosphere was excellent and with a win it's a marvelous memory as well".