Mallorca And Sevilla In No-Score Bore

Real Mallorca 0-0 Sevilla

Sevilla travelled to islanders Real Mallorca desperate to consign their shock Uefa Cup exit at the hands of Sampdoria to history, and continue their impressive recent domestic form. Diego Capel was given a start by Manolo Jiminez on the left hand side, while Luis Fabiano continued through the centre in the absence of Freddie Kanoute who was able to take a place on the bench.

Mallorca over the years have been notoriously difficult to beat at the ONO Estadi, and it is their home form that is keeping them just above the relegation places this season. They started the match in a typically positive fashion, but were unable to truly test Palop, who was simply outstanding for the Rojiblancos in Italy on Thursday.

In fact it was the visitors who had the clearest opportunity of the opening exchanges – and what an opportunity it was. Jesus Navas brilliant drove down the right, and whipped in a dream of a cross into the six yard area. But Capel managed to impede his team-mate Fabiano by inadvertently jumping into him as he headed at goal. Fabiano’s effort smashed against the crossbar, but if it had not been for the presence of Capel, he would almost certainly given Sevilla the lead. The look of disgust he directed at the young Spaniard summed up his feelings.

But aside from that chance, there was precious little quality on show in what was a somewhat subdued opening 45 minutes.

The second half didn’t get much better – Mallorca perhaps were the more positive but rarely managed to make Palop work. There was a great deal of huff and puff, but precious little incisive play as Sevilla’s European hangover appeared to have followed them back from Genoa.

Around the sixty-five minute mark, the Andalusia club woke briefly from their slumber, as the ever-impressive Navas once more swung in a teasing cross, and this time midfielder Romaric unleashed a vicious volley that German Lux did well to tip over for a corner.

But that, quite literally, was it - you will need to go a long way to see a poorer ninety minutes in the Primera Division this season.

Real Mallorca: Lux, Ramis, Nunes, Corrales, Josemi, Suarez, Marti, Aduriz (Webo 83'), Scaloni (Keita 70'), Varela, Juan Arango

Sevilla: Palop, Escude, Squillaci, Navarro, Crespo, Romaric (Adriano 80'), Duscher (Fazio 90'), Renato, Navas, Capel (Kanoute 60'), Fabiano

Paul Macdonald, Goal.Com




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