Sevilla are taking on PSV Eindhoven in their crucial Champions League match-up on Wednesday evening. Los Nervionenses are still yet to win in this season’s competition, and three points will be required if they want to have any chance of qualifying for the knockout stages post-Christmas.
Given that the stakes are incredibly high for Sevilla, head coach Diego Alonso has opted for a very experienced line-up for the match at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan. The likes of Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos, Ivan Rakitic and Fernando Reges all start, and they will hope to drive the Andalusians on to victory.
Sevilla are about to kick off against PSV Eindhoven in their must-win #UCL clash at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Diego Alonso, still seeking his first victory in the competition, has named a very experienced XI, including the likes of Jesus Navas, Sergio Ramos and Ivan Rakitic. pic.twitter.com/qsZSf2rEKt
— Football España (@footballespana_) November 29, 2023
Sevilla’s line-up is so experienced (and aging) that it has actually set a new Champions League record. As per Opta, it is the starting XI with the highest average age (32 years, 19 days) in the competition’s history.
Ladies and gentlemen…
Presenting the starting XI with the oldest average age in Champions League history… pic.twitter.com/g917y08vxc
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 29, 2023
While this experience could well see Sevilla over the line against PSV, it is a sad indictment of the club’s current state of affairs. There looks to be no long-term planning going on within the sporting department – this is not just Victor Orta’s fault, his predecessor Monchi should also take his fair share of the blame.
