Almost 3,000 away fans will support Sevilla in their first match at the Allianz Arena. The Andalusians have never been supported by more fans in a European match outside the Iberian Peninsula. And Vincenzo Montella and his men have brought something else with them: hope.
"It's no mission impossible. We can achieve it if we believe it's possible," stressed Montella on the eve of the Champions League quarter-final return leg. Club president Jose Castro, who is heading the Spanish delegation in Munich, declared: "We aren't yet dead. There's still a chance, the fans will be with us, and we'll give it everything."
'It's not impossible'
Two magical Champions League nights fuel Sevilla's hopes. They drew 3-3 against Liverpool in the group stage after going three down. And they won 2-1 away to Manchester United in the last 16, advancing to the quarter-finals for the first time in sixty years.
"We've made it up to this point, and we still have the chance of advancing to the semis," said midfielder Franco Vazquez, who almost made it 2-1 for Sevilla in the first leg had it not been for Javi Martinez's last-ditch tackle. The Andalusians have to make up a 2-1 deficit in the return leg. "We know it's hard to win here, but we're full of confidence. It's not impossible," added Vazquez.
Banega returns
Sevilla demonstrated in the first leg they can cause FC Bayern problems, scoring the opener. "We want to play as we always do, as we did in the first leg," said Montella, who knows a "difficult task" awaits Sevilla: "We have to work hard, be compact, strike a good balance, create chances and be clinical in front of goal. It'll be crucial to keep a clean sheet. We need patience and of course a bit of luck."
The Spanish side a 23-man squad with them in Munich. The Italian head coach will have to make do without centre-back Simon Kjaer (muscular problems), but midfield maestro Ever Banega is available again after serving a one-match ban last week. "He's a very important player for us. He can control our game," said Vazquez. Banega too nurtures Sevilla's hopes. "We've demonstrated we can achieve great things," according to Montella.
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