Sevilla vs Valencia preview - Aspas keen to bounce back

Posted Friday, August 22, 2014 by PA

Iago Aspas is desperate to wash the bitter taste of defeat out of his mouth by helping Sevilla beat Valencia on the opening day of the new Primera Division season.

The on-loan Liverpool striker made his Rojiblancos debut in last week's UEFA Super Cup defeat to Real Madrid in Cardiff and hopes for a better day when the Europa League winners tackle Valencia at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sevilla are much-changed given the additions of Aspas, Ever Banega, Gerard Deulofeu and Grzegorz Krychowiak but the former feels the Andalusian team have started to gel and should be ready to hit the ground running on Saturday.

He told sevillafc.es: "The team are very excited to get stuck into the game.

"We've come home from the Super Cup on the back of a bitter defeat and so my team-mates and I are looking forward to having a real go in this match.

"But we will have to go steady as certain players have joined the group a little later than the rest."

One player who will not feature against Los Che is French striker Kevin Gameiro, who has been ruled out for six weeks with a knee injury having scored 20 goals for Sevilla in 2013-14.

Aspas added: "It's a shame that Kevin's injured, not just because we can't train with him but because he's out of our tight gang of 23.

"Then again, I suppose everybody wants to play, and players can tend to be selfish!

"The coach (Unai Emery) has a difficult job, because (director of sport) Monchi has done a good job with his recruiting and so it is now difficult to pick the best starting XI."

Valencia have also been busy in the transfer market as they look to improve on last season's eight-placed finish.

While Shkodran Mustafi, Andre Gomes and Lucas Orban are the marquee signings, Portuguese boss Nuno Espirito Santo this week strengthened his backline with the loan addition of countryman Joao Cancelo from Benfica.

At his formal unveiling, the right-back told valenciacf.com: "I am really happy to get this opportunity and I hope to pay the club back with my hard work and dedication.

"The Spanish league is among the best in the world.

"We are a young group, but age isn't the most important thing and we are going to try and become a great team.

"I feel a big sense of responsibility, but without that responsibility there would be no football."