Sevilla FC faces Juventud de Torremolinos tonight at the Jesús Navas stadium in their first pre-season test. Luis García Plaza is shaping a line-up with numerous absences due to injury and technical decisions.
Sevilla FC kicks off their 2026/27 pre-season tonight with a friendly against Juventud de Torremolinos, a team from Primera RFEF. The match, taking place at the Jesús Navas stadium in the Seville sports city, will serve Luis García Plaza to start shaping his new project. The Madrid-born coach has barely been able to count on the full squad in training, and the starting eleven will differ significantly from the one aiming for promotion in the league.
Sensitive injuries and marked omissions
Injuries have already taken their toll before the first whistle. Alfon González suffers a muscle tear in his right quadriceps that will keep him out for two months, while Andrés Castrín is struggling with a pubalgia that prevents him from being on the pitch. Both are confirmed absences for the clash against the Málaga team.
Additionally, Luis García Plaza has left out Joan Jordán, Fábio Cardoso, Fede Gattoni, Rafa Mir, and Tanguy Nianzou for technical reasons. These five players are not part of the coach's plans, and their departures are being negotiated in the market. Nianzou, for example, is currently in France undergoing medical tests with LOSC Lille to finalise his transfer.
Also excluded are Akor Adams, whose signing by Venezia is being negotiated by his sporting director in Seville, and the newcomers Odysseas Vlachodimos and Chidera Ejuke, who have had limited training sessions. Even Gabriel Suazo, with less training load, will be reserved.
Alberto Flores, golden opportunity in goal
Without Vlachodimos, goalkeeper Alberto Flores will be the starter. The youth player from Fuentes de Andalucía has the chance to prove to José Ignacio Navarro that there is no need to look for a market replacement for the Greek. This will be his big test against a lower-tier opponent but one that will demand concentration.
In defence, Juan Iglesias and Arouna Sangante could make their debuts, partnering with Kike Salas due to Castrín's absence. Suazo has barely trained, so Oso is favoured for the left flank ahead of Pedrosa. The midfield offers more options: Agoumé, Manu Bueno, Nico Guillén, and Guridi are vying for a spot.
In attack, the absence of Ejuke and Vargas (with Switzerland) and Sow reduces options on the wings. Juanlu could play as a right winger, with Carmona or youth player Miguel Sierra on the left. The eleven will be a laboratory for the coach, who seeks to regain Sevilla's identity after a transitional year.
For the fans of Torremolinos, seeing their team face a giant like Sevilla is an incentive. Juventud, competing in Primera RFEF, seeks to gain experience and pull off a surprise in a setting that will go down in the club's history. The match, which is played behind closed doors, will have no public, but it will be closely followed by supporters of both teams.
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