Spanish La Liga club Sevilla have dismissed head coach Diego Alonso, the club announced on Saturday following the team’s crushing 3-0 loss at home to Getafe in the league. Alonso spent just 14 games in charge before parting ways with the club.

“We would like to communicate that Diego Alonso has been relieved of his duties as first-team head coach. We thank him for his efforts and wish him the best for the future,” the club’s statement read. Alonso was not given the opportunity to participate in the customary post-match press conference. Instead, the team simply stated that a replacement would be found as soon as possible.

Alonso joined the team in October to replace José Mendilibar, who led the team to the Europa League trophy last season. During his time in charge, Alonso failed to win any of his eight La Liga matches, with the team being defeated in all four of their Champions League fixtures. His only two victories as Sevilla coach came in the Copa del Rey, with Sevilla defeating teams from lower divisions.

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Sevilla once again showed that they are unmatched in the UEFA Europa League. The La Liga side beat AS Roma on penalties on Wednesday night to claim its seventh Europa League trophy in club history.

Sevilla got the win after overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the regular time. Following scoreless extra time, the Spanish side was better in the penalty shootout, converting four penalty kicks, while Roma only scored once from the spot. 

The game between Sevilla and Roma was a clash of history in a way. Sevilla entered the game having never lost the Europa League finals. Roma was coached by Jose Mourinho, who never lost finals in European competition over the course of his career.

It looked like Mourinho would prevail as Paulo Dybala gave Roma the lead in the 36th minute. However, Sevilla managed to make it even in the second half thanks to an own goal by Gianluca Mancini in the 55th minute.

Both sides had their chances to end the game in regular time but failed to take advantage of them. The game went to extra time, during which teams were more focused on keeping their goal intact than on threatening the opponent.

In the end, it all came down to penalties. Lucas Ocampos, Erik Lamela, Ivan Rakitic, and Gonzalo Montiel all scored for Sevilla, while Roma’s Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez failed to convert their penalty kicks.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Sevilla’s Erik Lamela, who previously played for Roma, said it was a difficult match but that his club deserved to win.

“This is my first title, I’ve waited a lot, and I’m so excited,” said Lamela. “Maybe it wasn’t our best match, but I think we deserved the effort made this year. The team has never stopped.”

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Tuesday night brought the first day full of Champions League group stage matches in the new season, matching up some of Europe’s top teams in a preview of what is sure to be an intense battle to qualify for the competition’s elimination rounds.

One of the night’s most anticipated matchups, a visit by reigning Europa League champions Sevilla to Stamford Bridge, ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

In Sevilla’s first Champions League match in two seasons, they stood their ground against Frank Lampard’s side. They won the possession battle 56% to 44% but were ultimately unable to convert their time with the ball into many chances against Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea also just couldn’t generate many occasions against a stout Sevilla defense. Their best stretch came just after the beginning of the first half when a Kurt Zouma header tested Sevilla keeper Yassine Bono, with shots from Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell following shortly thereafter.

At the end of 90 minutes plus extra time, neither team was able to grab a goal and they both walked away with one point from the match between the two Group E favorites.

Chelsea’s next UCL test will come on October 28th at Krasnodar, while Sevilla will host Rennes.

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After a season of discontent at FC Barcelona, Croatian international midfielder Ivan Rakitic will head back to his former club in a move that will make the reigning Europa League champions even stronger.

FC Barcelona transferred Ivan Rakitic to Sevilla on Tuesday for a transfer fee of $1.8 million, which includes over $10 million in variables. With this move, Rakitic will return to the team where he broke out as a star in Spain.

After beginning his career at FC Basel and then spending time with Schalke 04 in Germany, Rakitic broke onto the scene during his 2011 to 2014 tenure with Sevilla. He scored 27 goals in 117 games with the team, helping them win the 2014 UEFA Europa League title.

Rakitic then moved to Barcelona, where he was a crucial part of a team that won a Champions League, four domestic leagues, and four Copas del Rey during his tenure with the Blaugrana.

Now, at 32 and with his playing time dwindling at Barca, Rakitic will look to revive his career with Julen Lopetegui’s side, which will have La Liga title aspirations and will compete in the Champions League in the upcoming season.

Rakitic is expected to report to Sevilla training at some point this week or next.

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Now it’s official. UEFA Europa League is Sevilla’s competition.

Sevilla lifted its record sixth UEFA Cup/Europa League trophy on Thursday night by beating the favored Inter Milan 3-2 in the Finals game held at RheinEnergieSTADION. This win also meant that the La Liga club remained perfect in the finals of the competition, going six out of six.

Things didn’t start great for Sevilla as Inter’s Romelu Lukaku went down in the penalty box in the 5th minute after a tackle from Diego Carlos. The referee awarded a penalty for Inter, which Lukaku confidently turned into a goal.

However, Inter’s lead didn’t last long. Sevilla equalized thanks to Luuk de Jong in the 12th minute, who scored a header a pinpoint cross by veteran Jesus Navas. 

The action got quiet a bit for the next 20 minutes, only for things to get exciting again. This time it was Sevilla who got the lead, with another de Jong’s header finding its way past Samir Handanovic in 33rd minute. Still, they managed to hold the 2-1 result for just three minutes, as Italian club strike back via defender Diego Godin.

The second half saw a much more cautious game, although Inter had the opportunity to get ahead early in the period, but Lukaku couldn’t utilize the one-on-one situation with Sevilla’s goalkeeper. He did, however, found the net in 74th minute.

After a sloppy clearance by Inter’s defense, Carlos tried a bicycle kick in the opponents’ 16-yard box. The ball wasn’t on target and was headed to sidelines, but Lukaku stepped in, tried to kick it away, and ended up putting it in his own net.

Inter pushed for the equalizer and had several good chances, but unfortunately for their fans, they couldn’t turn them into goals. With the loss, Seria A side extended their trophy drought to 10 years. The last trophy they won was Copa Italia during the 2010/11 season.

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As Italy’s Serie A comes to a close along with other clubs around the world, the rumor mil for transfers has already begun to heat up.

One of the biggest names in Italian soccer who reportedly could be on the move over the summer is AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, who is apparently a desired quantity for many teams, especially in Spain.

Biglia has only one year remaining on his AC Milan contract, and the Serie A giants might prefer to get a transfer fee in exchange for his services than keep him around for the upcoming campaign.

The 34-year-old Argentinian, a regular member of his country’s national team, has reportedly been identified by La Liga’s Sevilla FC and Real Betis as a player that they would like to add to their rosters.

Celta Vigo, which barely avoided relegation last season, has also been mentioned as a team which has asked Milan about Biglia.

The defensive midfielder has had trouble finding his place in Milan’s lineup lately, appearing in only 14 matches last season and recording just one assist.

This might be Biglia’s last opportunity to play for a top-tier European side, but it seems as if he’ll have plenty of suitors if Milan does indeed decide to sell him this summer.

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This year’s UEFA Europa League is yet another exciting edition of the secondary continental soccer competition on the continent of Europe.

After an unpredictable Round of 32, which saw tournament heavyweights such as Arsenal and Ajax knocked out of the competition, anything could happen in the competition’s upcoming Round of 16,

With this group of teams left in the field, let’s take a look at the top four favorites for this season’s Europa League crown.

Manchester United

The Red Devils might not be the mighty team that they once were, but they still look like one of the best teams in this year’s Europa League contest.

A favorable draw against Austrian side LASK Linz has put them in a good position to reach the semi-finals. Not many teams have the likes of players such as Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Jesse Lingard in their ranks, even if Man U sometimes plays beneath expectations.

Inter Milan

Inter Milan got a rough draw against Getafe, the team that knocked Ajax out of the competition in the Round of 32, but Antonio Conte’s team has plenty of options to go far and even win the tournament.

Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku form a duo of deadly forwards that are capable of exploding and scoring multiple goals on any given night. The winter loan deal for Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen was a huge boost for the squad, which has its hopes set high.

Getafe

Pepe Bordalas’s Getafe might not have the name recognition of some of the other teams in this competition, but this La Liga side is for real.

Currently in fourth place in Spain’s La Liga, Getafe took care of Ajax in the Round of 32 and now has a massive Round of 16 bout with Inter ahead of them. If any team can stop a front line as talented as Inter’s, it’s Getafe, which has one of the top five defenses in Europe. If defense wins titles, the Azulones might just be heading for Europa League glory.

Sevilla

Rounding out our list of this year’s top Europa League contenders is Sevilla, the most successful club in the history of the competition with five titles.

They have a tough Round of 16 matchup against Roma ahead of them, but Sevilla is a deep side that could be capable of going far and even winning this year’s competition. Julen Lopetegui’s team boasts a strong defense headlined by Diego Carlos, but also can get plenty of goals from players like Luuk de Jong and Lucas Ocampos.

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Mexican forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been signed by La Liga side Sevilla on a three-year deal. Hernandez departed from English side West Ham United, to whom Sevilla paid an undisclosed fee.

Hernandez spent just over two seasons at the London club before relocating to Spain. He also featured in West Ham’s opening two league games, bagging a goal in the process.

Following his transfer, Hernandez made the following statement: “I want to thank West Ham for being open to negotiate and allow me to leave. It was not easy and it was completed late in the transfer window. I know Sevilla have put a lot of confidence in me. I’m going to give my all. I need to prove that on the pitch.

I hope that this new chapter in my career is better than my previous spell in La Liga. I feel well, I feel 100% and I’ve returned to my national team.

I want to show my best and I see myself scoring a lot of goals. This is a step forward in my career and it gives me a lot of enthusiasm. I feel I’m in the best form of my career and I just want to continue to grow as a player and as a human being.”

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After a topsy-turvy 2018, former Spain and Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui has found a new home.

The 52-year-old head man inked a deal to become Sevilla FC’s manager next season.

The deal, in fact, will keep the Basque coach in Sevilla until the summer of 2022.

Lopetegui will get back on his feet with a team that finished in 6th place in La Liga last season, qualifying for a UEFA Europa League berth. Sevilla, one of the biggest teams in Spain, will look to win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League next season.

2018 was an extremely strange year for the coach, who started it off preparing to be the Spanish National Team’s Head Coach for the 2018 World Cup.

However, after agreeing to a deal to become Real Madrid’s coach just before the tournament, he was asked to leave the national team.

Things didn’t go well for him in Madrid, as he was sacked in October after a disappointing start to the year. It wasn’t the way he envisioned his exit from one of the most enticing international jobs on Earth going.

Now, Lopetegui will have the opportunity to coach Sevilla and re-establish both his name and reputation in the coaching world. If all goes well, he could find himself back in the conversation as one of the best coaches on the planet.

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Spanish La Liga club Sevilla have dismissed head coach Diego Alonso, the club announced on Saturday following the team’s crushing 3-0 loss at home to Getafe in the league. Alonso spent just 14 games in charge before parting ways with the club.

“We would like to communicate that Diego Alonso has been relieved of his duties as first-team head coach. We thank him for his efforts and wish him the best for the future,” the club’s statement read. Alonso was not given the opportunity to participate in the customary post-match press conference. Instead, the team simply stated that a replacement would be found as soon as possible.

Alonso joined the team in October to replace José Mendilibar, who led the team to the Europa League trophy last season. During his time in charge, Alonso failed to win any of his eight La Liga matches, with the team being defeated in all four of their Champions League fixtures. His only two victories as Sevilla coach came in the Copa del Rey, with Sevilla defeating teams from lower divisions.

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Sevilla once again showed that they are unmatched in the UEFA Europa League. The La Liga side beat AS Roma on penalties on Wednesday night to claim its seventh Europa League trophy in club history.

Sevilla got the win after overcoming a 1-0 deficit in the regular time. Following scoreless extra time, the Spanish side was better in the penalty shootout, converting four penalty kicks, while Roma only scored once from the spot. 

The game between Sevilla and Roma was a clash of history in a way. Sevilla entered the game having never lost the Europa League finals. Roma was coached by Jose Mourinho, who never lost finals in European competition over the course of his career.

It looked like Mourinho would prevail as Paulo Dybala gave Roma the lead in the 36th minute. However, Sevilla managed to make it even in the second half thanks to an own goal by Gianluca Mancini in the 55th minute.

Both sides had their chances to end the game in regular time but failed to take advantage of them. The game went to extra time, during which teams were more focused on keeping their goal intact than on threatening the opponent.

In the end, it all came down to penalties. Lucas Ocampos, Erik Lamela, Ivan Rakitic, and Gonzalo Montiel all scored for Sevilla, while Roma’s Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez failed to convert their penalty kicks.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Sevilla’s Erik Lamela, who previously played for Roma, said it was a difficult match but that his club deserved to win.

“This is my first title, I’ve waited a lot, and I’m so excited,” said Lamela. “Maybe it wasn’t our best match, but I think we deserved the effort made this year. The team has never stopped.”

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Tuesday night brought the first day full of Champions League group stage matches in the new season, matching up some of Europe’s top teams in a preview of what is sure to be an intense battle to qualify for the competition’s elimination rounds.

One of the night’s most anticipated matchups, a visit by reigning Europa League champions Sevilla to Stamford Bridge, ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw.

In Sevilla’s first Champions League match in two seasons, they stood their ground against Frank Lampard’s side. They won the possession battle 56% to 44% but were ultimately unable to convert their time with the ball into many chances against Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy.

Chelsea also just couldn’t generate many occasions against a stout Sevilla defense. Their best stretch came just after the beginning of the first half when a Kurt Zouma header tested Sevilla keeper Yassine Bono, with shots from Timo Werner and Ben Chilwell following shortly thereafter.

At the end of 90 minutes plus extra time, neither team was able to grab a goal and they both walked away with one point from the match between the two Group E favorites.

Chelsea’s next UCL test will come on October 28th at Krasnodar, while Sevilla will host Rennes.

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After a season of discontent at FC Barcelona, Croatian international midfielder Ivan Rakitic will head back to his former club in a move that will make the reigning Europa League champions even stronger.

FC Barcelona transferred Ivan Rakitic to Sevilla on Tuesday for a transfer fee of $1.8 million, which includes over $10 million in variables. With this move, Rakitic will return to the team where he broke out as a star in Spain.

After beginning his career at FC Basel and then spending time with Schalke 04 in Germany, Rakitic broke onto the scene during his 2011 to 2014 tenure with Sevilla. He scored 27 goals in 117 games with the team, helping them win the 2014 UEFA Europa League title.

Rakitic then moved to Barcelona, where he was a crucial part of a team that won a Champions League, four domestic leagues, and four Copas del Rey during his tenure with the Blaugrana.

Now, at 32 and with his playing time dwindling at Barca, Rakitic will look to revive his career with Julen Lopetegui’s side, which will have La Liga title aspirations and will compete in the Champions League in the upcoming season.

Rakitic is expected to report to Sevilla training at some point this week or next.

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Now it’s official. UEFA Europa League is Sevilla’s competition.

Sevilla lifted its record sixth UEFA Cup/Europa League trophy on Thursday night by beating the favored Inter Milan 3-2 in the Finals game held at RheinEnergieSTADION. This win also meant that the La Liga club remained perfect in the finals of the competition, going six out of six.

Things didn’t start great for Sevilla as Inter’s Romelu Lukaku went down in the penalty box in the 5th minute after a tackle from Diego Carlos. The referee awarded a penalty for Inter, which Lukaku confidently turned into a goal.

However, Inter’s lead didn’t last long. Sevilla equalized thanks to Luuk de Jong in the 12th minute, who scored a header a pinpoint cross by veteran Jesus Navas. 

The action got quiet a bit for the next 20 minutes, only for things to get exciting again. This time it was Sevilla who got the lead, with another de Jong’s header finding its way past Samir Handanovic in 33rd minute. Still, they managed to hold the 2-1 result for just three minutes, as Italian club strike back via defender Diego Godin.

The second half saw a much more cautious game, although Inter had the opportunity to get ahead early in the period, but Lukaku couldn’t utilize the one-on-one situation with Sevilla’s goalkeeper. He did, however, found the net in 74th minute.

After a sloppy clearance by Inter’s defense, Carlos tried a bicycle kick in the opponents’ 16-yard box. The ball wasn’t on target and was headed to sidelines, but Lukaku stepped in, tried to kick it away, and ended up putting it in his own net.

Inter pushed for the equalizer and had several good chances, but unfortunately for their fans, they couldn’t turn them into goals. With the loss, Seria A side extended their trophy drought to 10 years. The last trophy they won was Copa Italia during the 2010/11 season.

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As Italy’s Serie A comes to a close along with other clubs around the world, the rumor mil for transfers has already begun to heat up.

One of the biggest names in Italian soccer who reportedly could be on the move over the summer is AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia, who is apparently a desired quantity for many teams, especially in Spain.

Biglia has only one year remaining on his AC Milan contract, and the Serie A giants might prefer to get a transfer fee in exchange for his services than keep him around for the upcoming campaign.

The 34-year-old Argentinian, a regular member of his country’s national team, has reportedly been identified by La Liga’s Sevilla FC and Real Betis as a player that they would like to add to their rosters.

Celta Vigo, which barely avoided relegation last season, has also been mentioned as a team which has asked Milan about Biglia.

The defensive midfielder has had trouble finding his place in Milan’s lineup lately, appearing in only 14 matches last season and recording just one assist.

This might be Biglia’s last opportunity to play for a top-tier European side, but it seems as if he’ll have plenty of suitors if Milan does indeed decide to sell him this summer.

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This year’s UEFA Europa League is yet another exciting edition of the secondary continental soccer competition on the continent of Europe.

After an unpredictable Round of 32, which saw tournament heavyweights such as Arsenal and Ajax knocked out of the competition, anything could happen in the competition’s upcoming Round of 16,

With this group of teams left in the field, let’s take a look at the top four favorites for this season’s Europa League crown.

Manchester United

The Red Devils might not be the mighty team that they once were, but they still look like one of the best teams in this year’s Europa League contest.

A favorable draw against Austrian side LASK Linz has put them in a good position to reach the semi-finals. Not many teams have the likes of players such as Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, and Jesse Lingard in their ranks, even if Man U sometimes plays beneath expectations.

Inter Milan

Inter Milan got a rough draw against Getafe, the team that knocked Ajax out of the competition in the Round of 32, but Antonio Conte’s team has plenty of options to go far and even win the tournament.

Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku form a duo of deadly forwards that are capable of exploding and scoring multiple goals on any given night. The winter loan deal for Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen was a huge boost for the squad, which has its hopes set high.

Getafe

Pepe Bordalas’s Getafe might not have the name recognition of some of the other teams in this competition, but this La Liga side is for real.

Currently in fourth place in Spain’s La Liga, Getafe took care of Ajax in the Round of 32 and now has a massive Round of 16 bout with Inter ahead of them. If any team can stop a front line as talented as Inter’s, it’s Getafe, which has one of the top five defenses in Europe. If defense wins titles, the Azulones might just be heading for Europa League glory.

Sevilla

Rounding out our list of this year’s top Europa League contenders is Sevilla, the most successful club in the history of the competition with five titles.

They have a tough Round of 16 matchup against Roma ahead of them, but Sevilla is a deep side that could be capable of going far and even winning this year’s competition. Julen Lopetegui’s team boasts a strong defense headlined by Diego Carlos, but also can get plenty of goals from players like Luuk de Jong and Lucas Ocampos.

The post Evaluating This Year’s UEFA Europa League Favorites appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Mexican forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has been signed by La Liga side Sevilla on a three-year deal. Hernandez departed from English side West Ham United, to whom Sevilla paid an undisclosed fee.

Hernandez spent just over two seasons at the London club before relocating to Spain. He also featured in West Ham’s opening two league games, bagging a goal in the process.

Following his transfer, Hernandez made the following statement: “I want to thank West Ham for being open to negotiate and allow me to leave. It was not easy and it was completed late in the transfer window. I know Sevilla have put a lot of confidence in me. I’m going to give my all. I need to prove that on the pitch.

I hope that this new chapter in my career is better than my previous spell in La Liga. I feel well, I feel 100% and I’ve returned to my national team.

I want to show my best and I see myself scoring a lot of goals. This is a step forward in my career and it gives me a lot of enthusiasm. I feel I’m in the best form of my career and I just want to continue to grow as a player and as a human being.”

The post Hernandez Gets Fresh Start In Spain appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After a topsy-turvy 2018, former Spain and Real Madrid head coach Julen Lopetegui has found a new home.

The 52-year-old head man inked a deal to become Sevilla FC’s manager next season.

The deal, in fact, will keep the Basque coach in Sevilla until the summer of 2022.

Lopetegui will get back on his feet with a team that finished in 6th place in La Liga last season, qualifying for a UEFA Europa League berth. Sevilla, one of the biggest teams in Spain, will look to win the Europa League and qualify for the Champions League next season.

2018 was an extremely strange year for the coach, who started it off preparing to be the Spanish National Team’s Head Coach for the 2018 World Cup.

However, after agreeing to a deal to become Real Madrid’s coach just before the tournament, he was asked to leave the national team.

Things didn’t go well for him in Madrid, as he was sacked in October after a disappointing start to the year. It wasn’t the way he envisioned his exit from one of the most enticing international jobs on Earth going.

Now, Lopetegui will have the opportunity to coach Sevilla and re-establish both his name and reputation in the coaching world. If all goes well, he could find himself back in the conversation as one of the best coaches on the planet.

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