When Sevilla’s best player Ivan Rakitic was sold to Barcelona last summer, the general consensus was that the Andalusians’ hopes of further success went with him.
Captain and mainstay of Unai Emery’s side, the Croatian had helped mastermind another Europa League final victory and so it was with a heavy heart that Rakitic had decided that the time was right to move elsewhere.
If anyone was in any doubt as to the sincerity and depth of feeling from the player, his tears upon leaving the club for the last time should have been enough to convince even the most cynical of Sevillistas.
Federico Fazio soon followed Rakitic out of the exit door and it’s unlikely that even the most fervent of supporters will have envisaged what has happened since.
Emery has shown what a studious appointment he was by leading Los Palanganas to their best-ever showing in the first half of a La Liga season.
A horrific performance at Barcelona aside, Sevilla are playing some of the best football in the league at present and their flirtation with the top places is more than a fleeting dalliance.
At this point, they’re in the top six on merit, and if Carlos Bacca et al can push on in the next couple of months then who are we to say that Sevilla can’t break into the top three?
After all, the expectancy is all on Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Sevilla have slipped quietly into that top bracket.
Certainly visiting teams won’t relish a trip to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in the second half of the season. A real fortress, Sevilla’s only loss in 2014/15 remains a pre-season friendly against Sampdoria.
Nine wins out of the last 10 is the best form in the division at present, but the truest test of their credentials comes when the Europa League defence kicks in again in mid-February.
Real Madrid will play them at the beginning of the month in a game that, potentially, will give a huge hint as to where the league trophy might be heading at the end of the season.
Barca too have to travel to Andalusia in a game that will be far harder than their comprehensive 5-1 victory earlier in the season.
Emery will thank the Catalans for their loans of Denis Suarez and Gerard Deulofeu of course. The latter has begun to settle in after a slow start and his maturity in the role is a replication of the form he showed for Roberto Martinez at Everton.
The swagger remains and a belief that he can beat everyone on the pitch. At least now Deulofeu is backing up his enviable skill set with an end product. An assist for Bacca in the 2-0 win against Malaga was typical of the youngster.
Suarez is playing so well that Sevilla will do well to hang onto him for the entirety of the agreed loan period. Conceivably we could be looking at their player of the year.
Bacca too has been outstanding. A bull of a centre forward who is already into double figures in just 17 league appearances.
Yes, the good times are back in Andalusia. And not before time.
— The writer is a freelance journalist and Spanish football expert
