Sevilla vs Juventus offers intriguing clash of styles
Sevilla’s wild-eyed, excitable Jorge Sampaoli faces Juve’s phlegmatic Massimiliano Allegri in a fascinating clash of coaching styles in the Champions League today.
Both sides are unbeaten in Group H and seem set to qualify though Sevilla, on 10 points from four games, need a draw and visitors Juve, on eight, a win to guarantee a last-16 place.
Should Sevilla go through to the knockout stage, it will mean they won’t be able to defend the Europa League title which they have won for the last three seasons.
Sampaoli has already brought a breath of fresh air to La Liga, where his side have climbed into third place and beaten Atletico Madrid along the way.
Saturday’s 3-2 win at Deportivo La Coruna, where they scored twice in the last five minutes, was fairly typical of their style which is not for the faint-hearted.
Sampaoli likes his team to play with a fast and furious style, sweeping forward in relentless waves with seven or eight players joining the attack.
Defending has sometimes been an afterthought, although he has given Sevilla some added steel at the back and they have yet to concede a goal in the group.
Juve’s Allegri also likes his team to dominate possession but he is...