SEVILLA FC BRING AN END TO ELEVEN UNINTERRUPTED MONTHS OF FOOTBALL WITH AN A* FOR EFFORT

With last Sunday's game against Deportivo Alavés, Sevilla FC brought an end to the most demanding year ever. Since the team returned to training after the break caused by COVID-19, Julen Lopetegui's side have barely had a break. But they have overcome each and every difficulty put against them in the most challenging of calendars.

After finishing 19/20 in the Champions League spots and winning the sixth UEFA Europa League in that magical month of August, there was barely any time to celebrate or rest as Bayern Munich were waiting for the team on 24 September in Budapest for the UEFA Super Cup. Three days later, Sevilla began the season two matchdays late against Cádiz CF. The Nervionenses have played the joint-most matches this year with 69, only equalled by Granada CF who started their season very early in qualifying rounds. These 69 matches came in 346 days, an average of a game every five days for nearly a year. Considering that there were international breaks and a month-long break between the two seasons, that average becomes even smaller.

Sevilla FC played 69 games from 11 June 2020 to 23 May 2021 - a game every five days

And despite that, Sevilla broke their points record in the league, qualifying for the Champions League with five matches to spare, something that had never been achieved before in the Club's history. Furthermore, they went deep in the cups as they fell to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last-16 and they were a minute away from reaching the Copa del Rey final. Without any holidays and many footballers away on international duty in the short break the team had, the efforts of this Sevilla team cannot be overstated.

And thus comes to an end a run of 49 La Liga games spread over two seasons, seven Copa del Rey games leading to the semi-finals, eight in the Champions League, four as the team won the sixth Europa League and the solitary UEFA Super Cup game. The team never surrendered and dug deep as they gained plaudits from around the footballing world for their effort and commitment. Now they can rest to come back stronger than ever.