Sevilla’s Ongoing Struggles: A Season of Discontent

Sevilla FC’s difficulties this season show no signs of abating, as they remain mired in a context of deepening concern. Since the arrival of their recent signings in September, the team has been unable to string together three consecutive matches without a loss. Following a poor start to the year and two disappointing results, there was a glimmer of optimism with a visit to a struggling Mallorca side, currently in the relegation zone. However, Sevilla’s inability to learn from past mistakes led to another dismal performance, culminating in a 4-1 defeat.

In the match at Son Moix, coach Matías Almeyda implemented two significant changes to his initial 3-5-2 formation, alongside the return of Mendy after serving his suspension. In light of Gudelj’s ban, Almeyda opted to start Fábio Cardoso to add experience in marking Muriqi. Additionally, he positioned his only new signing, Maupay, alongside Akor Adams in attack. While both players showed some promise, the overall tactical direction was questionable.

Sevilla began the match on the front foot, with Agoumé and Peque controlling the pace of the game, Mendy functioning as an anchor, and Juanlu making notable advances down the right flank. Juanlu, one of the few players who has shown slight improvement in 2026, still lacks the consistency needed to maintain performance throughout the match. Maupay’s inclusion brought mobility and a greater offensive threat, although his lack of continuity was evident as he struggled to apply pressure effectively.

Led predominantly by the dynamic Virgili, Mallorca consistently attacked down the flanks. A key moment in the first half occurred when Virgili cut past Carmona in the opponent’s area, stumbling without defensive interference. While the incident sparked debates regarding a potential penalty, VAR typically refrains from intervening in such ambiguous situations. Muriqi converted the penalty, putting Sevilla once again on the back foot.

Sevilla’s lack of fluidity in play relied heavily on Peque’s creativity and Juanlu’s verticality, prompting Mallorca to pressure both players after taking the lead. Nonetheless, the Catalan took advantage of a defensive lapse from Mallorca, assisting Maupay for the equalizer; the Frenchman required only one shot on target to demonstrate his scoring ability, highlighting the significant room for improvement in Sevilla’s attack.

Post-halftime, Mallorca intensified their efforts and was rewarded swiftly: a mistake from Carmona during a build-up play allowed Virgili to break through, exposing a glaring defensive misalignment where Kike Salas and Suazo were out of position, and Cardoso failed to thwart Samú Costa’s shot. This goal illustrated the fragility and disarray of a defense that seems beyond repair.

“The second half pains me greatly as the opponent capitalized on too many simple errors during set pieces and second balls. These are issues we’ve discussed, trained, and analyzed, but we must keep insisting on them; there’s no other choice,” Almeyda admitted in the post-match press conference. His decisions, however, did not aid the situation. Substituting Juanlu and Peque for Ejuke and Alexis and shifting to a 4-4-2 formation ultimately weakened both the defense and attack, resulting in predictable and ineffective possessions that nearly tripled the number of passes to their opponent.

Relying on sporadic moments of inspiration from Ejuke, Sevilla appeared powerless against a Mallorca side that executed their game plan more effectively. Coach Jagoba Arrasate recognized that Sevilla struggled against a compact defense willing to cede possession. Even the revitalized Akor fell back into old habits, being caught offside three times. Amidst errors and transitions, Sevilla’s defense crumbled. Meanwhile, Castrín and Oso sat on the bench, perhaps feeling a mix of frustration and confusion at their inability to contribute on the pitch.

Currently, Sevilla secures a victory only once a month, which, combined with their numerous defeats, severely jeopardizes their survival in the league. They have now matched Oviedo for the most losses in the current season (12) and have also conceded the highest number of goals (37). With only two points above the relegation zone, they continue to struggle to rectify persistent issues, clinging to a style of play that proves detrimental. Consequently, they remain under consistent scrutiny.