The decadent season in Valencia and Seville distances both clubs from the struggles of other times, especially the one that was a turning point in 2014
The last big game at the top between the two clubs was in the semifinals of the Europa League with Pizzi on the bench and a late goal from Mbia
“There is a sports rivalry that has grown. Formerly the Valencia marked a superiority and now the two teams are capable of playing titles and are clear candidates to play Champions. I have lived this rivalry on both sides and that is added to the feelings of the semifinals last year. This makes football, Sevilla and Valencia bigger.” are words of Unai Emery, former coach of Sevilla FC and Valencia CF at the height of the rivalry between two clubs that are experiencing serious difficulties today. They were words in 2014 that it seems that much more time has passed seeing the current reality.
Valencia and Sevilla face each other this Sunday in the middle of the fight for the salvation of both clubs in the highest category. The Ché team has not gone down since 1986 while the Andalusian since 2000. However, there is a turning point to understand when it ended, especially for Valencia, the fight at the top of both entities.
Mbia’s historic header
On May 1 almost nine years ago, in 2014, the second leg of the Europa League semifinals was played between Valencia and Sevilla, after the 2-0 win for the Andalusian team at the Sánchez-Pizjuán. Valencia was close to working the miracle. In the 91st minute he made it 3-0 that sent him to the final in Turin. With Juan Antonio Pizzi on the bench, the che caressed glory. But it only lasted three minutes.
In the last moments of the match, around 94′, the remembered header from Stephane Mbia arrived, a goal that gave the Sevilla team their ticket to Italy, where the third Europa League would be achievedthe first of the triplet of European cups for Unai Emery, former Valencia coach.
The Cameroonian footballer, who due to his way of being is still very loved among the fans of the Nervionense team, recalled on his social networks the celebration of that classification for the final and some colleagues from that Sevilla champion answered him with a resounding: “I love you”.
By the way, it was a blow for the Mestalla team itself, which since then began a downward trend with some rebound (Marcelino’s Copa del Rey). Pizzi, who made merits to continue, did not continue in Valencia. Nobody knew that it was the beginning of a walk through the desert that now comes with the risk of relegation years later.
According to Betfair forecasts, for Sevilla to go down this season it is paid at €11 per euro bet while Valencia does so at only €4 per euro bet (25% implied odds). It is the first time, since those 80s, that the rate of probability of decline for Valencians is so high at this time of the year. Valencia has only added 27 points after 28 games in LaLiga 2022-23 (7V 6E 15D), its second lowest figure at this point in a campaign in the highest category, counting three points for victories, after 1982-83 (24 points, 6V 6E 16D) and 1985-86 (24 points, 5V 9E 14D), the year in which they were downgraded.
More than just a rivalry
The rivalry between Seville and Valencia has also been seen in the offices. The last episode of this tricky relationship of suspicion and sporting controversy took place at the beginning of the 2017-18 season when Dani Parejo forced him to leave the Mestalla club because he was not comfortable. Sevilla offered a ridiculous amount of 10 million euros, something unusual. Valencia was in charge of clearing up all doubts and put an end to any possibility, resoundingly refusing to allow Parejo to join Sevilla’s ranks.
Not long ago, Valencia-Sevilla (1-1) in the 2018-19 season was once again marked by the arbitration controversy. As usual, the meeting was intense and with controversies in the areas. If we add to this the duo formed by Estrada Fernández and De Burgos Bengoetxea, the controversy grew due to the complaints of both clubs for the appointments. Estrada Fernández was the main referee for Valencia-Sevilla, while De Burgos Bengoetxea was the VAR referee.
Another direct controversy that is remembered between Valencia and Sevilla dates from May 12, 2021. The duel between the two was decided by a single goal from En-Nesyri in the second half after a controversial play. The action, which was reviewed in the VAR, was protested by the footballers of the Valencian team without success due to a possible offside.
An action of centimeters that neither the referee, Xavier Estrada Fernández, nor the VAR decided to punish by invalidating the goal of Sevilla’s victory. Voro, Valencia’s coach at the time, acknowledged in the press room that they lost “with an occasion that is very fair.” Soler, in the statements just after the match ended, added that the play was doubtful. Pepper for a duel that on Sunday will be loaded with something else. Uncertainties squared travel in bulk towards Mestalla. Whoever loses the duel will take, in addition to these unknowns, a reality check with the risk of collapse. The Second threatens them. Who would have thought nine years ago when Mbia made history on the green at Mestalla.