Azpilicueta Hits 150 La Liga Games — And He's Become Sevilla's Defensive Rock
César Azpilicueta reached 150 La Liga appearances against Getafe, and his calming influence is proving crucial as Sevilla head into the Seville derby.
César Azpilicueta quietly hit a tidy milestone at the Coliseum on Saturday — and if Sevilla fans weren’t already appreciating what they’ve got in the veteran defender, they really should be paying attention now.
150 Games and Counting
The Navarrese full-back clocked up his 150th La Liga appearance against Getafe, a landmark spread across three clubs:
- 99 games for Osasuna (3 assists)
- 39 games for Atlético de Madrid (1 goal, 2 assists)
- 12 games for Sevilla — and counting
Before any of that, of course, he spent two seasons at Marseille and then over a decade at Chelsea, racking up more than 500 appearances in the Premier League. The bloke’s seen it all, basically.
Injuries Have Been a Nightmare, But He Keeps Coming Back
Signed last summer on a one-year deal with an option for another, Azpilicueta has struggled to get any real run of games together because of injuries. It’s been a proper frustrating one. But every time Matías Almeyda has been able to call on him, he’s gone straight into the starting XI — no questions asked.
He was also walking a disciplinary tightrope heading into the weekend, sitting on a booking that could’ve ruled him out of the derby. He dodged it, though, and he’ll be starting at La Cartuja on Sunday. Result.
The Getafe Game Showed Exactly What He Brings
Against Getafe, Azpilicueta was shifted around the backline all match — wing-back in a five, then left-back after the break, then central defender once Carmona came on. Most players would’ve looked a mess. He just… got on with it.
That kind of composure is exactly what a young defence needs around it. And the numbers back it up:
- Since returning from his latest injury lay-off, Sevilla have conceded just one goal in three matches with him on the pitch
- Clean sheet against Getafe
- He came back against Girona, started against Alavés — where he lasted 55 minutes before going off with concussion — and the visitors scored five minutes after he left. Make of that what you will.
Made for a Derby
If there’s one game where you want a player with Azpilicueta’s experience in your side, it’s a Seville derby. He’s been around the block more times than a black cab. In the first-leg meeting with Betis earlier this season, he came straight back into the team after injury and was solid as anything — his one-v-one defending against Abde was a particular highlight.
Game 151 in La Liga comes with a bit of extra spice, then. Sevilla will be without Nianzou at the back due to suspension, which makes Azpilicueta’s availability even more important. The old dog might just have a big performance left in him.