Global, La Liga, Uefa Cup

The Premier League has received plenty of positive press in light of the Champions League semi-final line-up, which included three English sides, but Spain’s Primera Liga has a right to protest and can claim to have far greater strength in depth with three of their sides making the semis of the Uefa Cup, a year after Sevilla had hammered Middlesbrough in Eindhoven in the previous season’s competition.

While the Premiership is dominated by four sides, La Liga is incredibly strong throughout. This season, for instance, four sides have been in the running for the title all the way through and any of three could still triumph in the league, while the scrap for European positions continues to sides as low as twelfth position – Mallorca, eighth from bottom, are just six points from a Uefa Cup spot with five matches to play.

But perhaps the most substantial evidence comes from last Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi-final, second leg between Getafe and Barcelona. Unfancied Getafe, under the brilliant stewardship of Bernd Schuster, had lost 5-2 at the Camp Nou but they shredded their illustrious opponents to pieces in the return match, incredibly winning 4-0 in a stadium that holds only 17,000. It is the equivalent of Chelsea heading to Wigan with all their star names only to be unsentimentally banished back to London. It highlighted the depth of La Liga, something the Premiership desperately craves.

When was the last time Chelsea or Manchester United, or even the other elite clubs across Europe’s top leagues, were hammered by four goals or more by a mid-table side?

Barcelona might end this season without a single trophy now, but it is a different matter for Sevilla. The latter’s scintillating style has won many hearts and the Andalusians are on the verge of an historic treble. Juande Ramos’s side can still win the league, are in the final of the Copa del Rey after thumping Deportivo, and are favourites to recapture their Uefa Cup crown against Espanyol.

Wednesday’s final in Glasgow is Catalonia versus Andalusia. On this night, the club permanently in the shadow of neighbours Barcelona have their very own opportunity for a night of glory, although a year ago they did triumph in the Spanish Cup – the reason they are in Europe this season. Espanyol are unlikely to qualify for the Uefa Cup again via their league position, but the focus is entirely on Wednesday, and Sevilla.

The two sides are nineteen points apart, but that will not bear much influence come the final, especially as any La Liga side seems capable of beating another. Espanyol might benefit from having a far less hectic schedule being in just one competition and having the luxury to rest most of their squad for Saturday’s match at Real Madrid while Sevilla played almost a full side against Recreativo Huelva.

There is also the possibility that they will want victory more. Sevilla have already had their moment of success, and may underestimate their opponents.

Do not think Espanyol are simply turning up for the spectacle. They have proved a joy to watch, scoring 32 goals in just 14 matches on the continent, beating the likes of Benfica and Werder Bremen – the latter being the long-term favourites – in stunning fashion.

So can they take the final step and add their names into the history books come Wednesday? Will they be bold and attack Sevilla? The money is on a closely fought encounter with goals highly probable, but the braver team will be the one that ultimately victors.

Can Espanyol shock Sevilla? Share your views by leaving a comment below.

---

Related Articles