Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui has outlined what his side must do when they face Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
City kick off their twelfth consecutive Champions League campaign with a trip to Seville to take on the Spanish heavyweights. City will enter the match at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in good spirits despite drawing 1-1 with Aston Villa on Saturday, having begun their Premier League title defence with four wins from six games.
The same cannot be said of Sevilla on the other hand, who have taken just one point from their opening four LaLiga matches. The pressure continued to mount on Lopetegui on Saturday evening, as his side were brushed aside 3-0 by a rampant Barcelona.
READ MORE: Man City wastefulness vs Aston Villa shows not even Erling Haaland can stop inevitable problem
Sevilla were the better side in the opening 15 minutes, but before too long Raphina and Robert Lewandowski had put the visitors two goals up, before former City defender Eric Garcia added a third after half-time. Sevilla's defence just couldn't live with Barca's elite attackers, suggesting that City could find some joy against them on Tuesday.
Speaking after the match, Lopetegui explained what his side need to change when they face Pep Guardiola's side.
"But I think the team did things well. We have to correct some defensive situations, of course, whether it's losing the ball or defending in the box," he said. "But it was a huge effort from the lads. I think in that regard the future will be positive.
"We were superior to Barcelona at the start of the game. They created very little danger and I think we had three or four clear chances. But football is goals. We didn't score and the first time we lose the ball, they have shown the quality they have and logically that has done the damage."
Having lost starting centre-backs Joules Kounde and Diego Carlos over the summer, Sevilla have looked defensively vulnerable in all four outings this term. Former City midfielder Fernando filled in at the back on Saturday, but he was unable to do much to prevent the damage done by Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele and co.
If Erling Haaland's recent exploits are anything to go by then he could find himself on the scoresheet once again.
READ MORE:
