SEVILLA FC'S BEST DEFENCE OF THE LAST DECADE HELP US BELIEVE IN THE OBJECTIVES

Sunday evening's draw at home to Deportivo Alavés was 22nd game in La Liga this season for Sevilla FC. Despite leaving the stadium on Sunday with a sour taste in their mouth due to the two points dropped, Sevilla racked up their 39th point of the campaign: eleven victories, six draws and five defeats. The sit in fourth place in La Liga, level on points with Getafe who are third on goal-difference. Sevilla are still in the Champions League spots in what is turning out to be a very competitive domestic competition this year; where six teams are all grouped together, with only five points being the difference between 3rd and 8th.

What has arguably been Sevilla FC's strongest asset until now has been their ability to defend, something which all teams who go on to achieve great things have in common. Buildings are built from the ground up, and never from the top down; and this is something that Julen Lopetegui and his coaching staff have made absolutely clear since they took over the reigns back in July. During this current season of La Liga, Sevilla FC have kept nine clean sheets; a figure that is only bettered by the leaders, Real Madrid (twelve), and Atlético de Madrid (ten). In addition, Sevilla have conceded the fifth fewest goals of every team in the top flight, by conceding 21 goals in 22 games.

Only the 2006/07 and the 2008/09 seasons could compare to the defensive statistics of this season

The fact of the matter is that the Sevilla FC of 2019/20, have cemented themselves as the club's best defence of the past decade. At this stage of the campaign in the previous ten seasons, the teams have always conceded more than they have this year. None of the managers of the past decade have been able to make the defense as solid as Julen Lopetegui has. With 16 league matches left to play, Sevilla have ambitions to repeat the success of two previous seasons: being the 2006/07 season - where they ended up winning the UEFA Cup, Copa del Rey and European Super Cup -, and the 2008/09 season which saw Sevilla finish in the top 4, securing their Champions League status for the following year. 

With all that being said, Sevilla move into the last 4 months of the season with a firm base to start from, their own identity, and the ambition which is necessary to continue to move forward in search of their objectives. It won't be easy, because there is always an opposition in the way who are fighting for themselves and their own interests. However, it is said that those that suffer, end up winning. This Sevilla, from back to front, have historical figures to hold on to. In Vigo, they have another opportunity to keep putting impressive numbers on the board.