Few surprises offered Lopetegui in the starting XI and the one in the center of the field lent itself to speculation. Perhaps the only one was the presence of Rafa Mir, injured after some time, in front of En-Nesyri. Delaney had won the opportunity by establishing himself as the best in the Antonio Puerta Trophy and only Ocampos’ doubts could arise, because he did not train for part of the week, although, like at other occasions, it seems to be a precaution. . A very offensive team in which Papu Gómez was responsible for leading the charge.
Osasuna started with more equipment and the intention to surprise. And he almost succeeded because he chained three finishes in the first minute, to which only the inaccuracies of Rubén Peña and Chimy Ávila prevented Sevilla from having to regret it.
An energy that the Navarrese team maintained with the aim of taking advantage of those first minutes when it was fresher to press a Sevilla that usually sleeps in games, confirms the slowness and begins to set the pace of the match.
This effort had a price, with these same two protagonists. Minute 9 passed when Rubén Peña, who made his debut as a starter, sent a precise cross to the far post for Chimy Ávila, very alone and winning the back of Gudelj, to finish with a header at pleasure . They had not reached ten minutes and it was time to come back against a tough team. Lopetegui’s side couldn’t have seen worse, as they didn’t appear in the opposite area.
However, the difference between the above teams and the others is in the quality of their men. In a play without apparent danger, just two minutes later, Papu Gómez made a spectacular control, placing him in the center of the box and Rafa Mir shooting Serguo Herrera. Eleven minutes and two goals. La Liga couldn’t have started better.
Osasuna seemed to feel the blow and slowed down a bit, which makes sense given the height of the season we find ourselves in, but it was a mirage. Arrasate launched his men and they soon returned to the charge, bringing the frenzy of the first moments to the game. At 20 minutes, Torró sends Bono flying; Papu would respond three minutes later, after a luxurious backheel from the ecatito, but the ball bounced just before finishing and eventually sent the ball into the hands of Sergio Herrera; and, as if it were a pediment, Moi Gómez tried again from afar with a shot that ended up hitting the post; Rafa Mir was looking for the red team and it went a little wrong… Crazy.
The hydration break was, for many, a much-needed respite. The pace of the first half hour was unsuitable for the month of August, and it showed in the “CV”. The game completely changed and started to resemble what Lopetegui was looking for, in which Sevilla kneaded the ball and, at a leisurely pace, started to approach Herrera’s goal. Osasuna were tucking in the sails to avoid suffering and Sevilla were starting to run out of space, but this match seemed destined for pitchers. In the 38th minute, Delaney grabs a ball from 30 meters, shoots without thinking and only the stick manages to stop his trajectory. The Pampelunese are satisfied that their rival is not getting closer.
DATA SHEET:
AC Health: Sergio Herrera; Ruben Peña, Unai Garcia, David Garcia; Juan Cruz; Moncayola, Nougat, Aimar Oroz; Kike Barja, Chimy Avila, Moi Gómez.
Sevilla FC: It will consist of Bono, Navas, Gudelj, Rekik, Acuña, Fernando, Delaney, Papu Gómez, Ocampos, Tecatito and Rafa Mir.
Goals: 1-0 (9′) Chimy Avila; 1-1 (11′) Rafa Mir.
Arbitrator: From Cerro Grande (Madrid). Admonished David Garcia