Sevilla's costly failure to draw: A relegation battle headache
Almeyda's men have managed just two draws all season - a stat that could prove fatal in their fight for La Liga survival despite competing well in most matches.
Sevilla’s inability to settle for a point could be their downfall in what’s shaping up to be a proper dogfight for survival this season.
The draw drought
The Andalusian outfit have had more ups and downs than the Northern Line this season, competing well in most matches but failing to translate that into consistent points. With just eight scoring gameweeks from 19 played, their tally of six wins and a measly two draws leaves them in a right pickle.
What’s particularly striking is their draw record. Only four clubs across Europe’s top five leagues have fewer draws than Sevilla:
- Roma (0)
- Inter Milan (1)
- Barcelona (1)
- Lens (1)
The difference? Apart from Roma, the others are sitting pretty at the top of their respective leagues. Meanwhile, Sevilla are scrapping for survival with a playing style that doesn’t exactly lend itself to sharing the spoils.
Tactical troubles
Almeyda’s attacking approach often leaves his side exposed, making them overly reliant on clinical finishing up top. Their only two draws (against Elche and Valencia) came in matches where they adopted a more conservative approach.
The gaffer himself acknowledged the issue: “We failed to rescue two or three draws and that’s a lot of points in this competition,” he said before their match against Celta - another game they lost in the dying moments, similar to their defeat against Villarreal.
Historical context
In the 21st century, no Sevilla side has registered fewer draws in the first half of a league season than the current crop. The only teams matching this poor record (2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11, and 2017-18) all managed to rack up more points overall, boasting eight or more victories and comfortably sitting in the top half of the table.
The relegation equation
With such fine margins at the bottom of La Liga, Sevilla’s inability to nick a point when they can’t secure all three could prove costly. Whether it’s failing to protect a lead or salvage something from tight games, learning how to draw might be as important as winning in their battle for survival.
With the bottom half separated by a handful of points, those missing draws could be the difference between staying up and going down to the Championship… or should I say, Segunda Division. Bit of a mare, that.