Unai Emery says he is aware of the threat Espanyol pose his Sevilla side in Thursday’s Copa del Rey first-leg quarter-final clash.
The Andalusians go into the game at the Power8 Stadium on the back of a 2-0 home win against Malaga, but Emery has warned that Los Pericos are certain to be difficult opponents for his high-flying team.
“We have a lot of respect for Espanyol and it is going to be tough,” he told a Press conference ahead of the tie.
“I don’t think we can be classed as favourites because of how they are playing, and the memory of what they did in the previous round [against Valencia] will spur them on.
“Espanyol have been playing very well and we are under no illusions that it’s going to be a difficult 180 minutes.”
Sevilla’s cause is not helped by the number of injury worries they have for the game.
“We are without Beto, [Nicolas] Pareja, [Benoit] Tremoulinas and [Ever] Banega. Even so, we are thinking about Thursday despite us having one day less to prepare for the match at Mestalla on Sunday against Valencia.
“Banega has flu and he’s found it hard to get back into the swing of things after the Christmas break.
“As he wasn’t going to start in the Cup then it was better he stayed at home in Sevilla recovering,” explained Emery.
