Saturday opponent: the Betis.

Seville. First an Islamic and then a Spanish city. Crossroads of different cultures, religions and powers. It is right to talk about Seville, when we talk about Real Betis Balompiè (Balompiè is a more Spanish way of calling football than the Anglo-Saxon futebol), also because in this summer full of commitments, we also faced the cousins of Sevilla FC( 0-0).

The city is full of references to Islam and first Islamic and now Christian monuments such as the Giralda which used to be a minaret and has become the beautiful tower of the Cathedral of Seville (in Gothic style). Here, as in many other places in the world, the mixture of different cultures and religions has produced wonderful artistic creations.

Betis is the Roman name (around the world and history we must ever talk about Rome) of the Guadalivquir river that crosses Seville. The club was born in 1907 from an idea of some students of the Polytechnic, two years after Sevilla (1905). They won a Liga in 1935 and two Copa del Rey in 1977 and 2005. The blancoverde have a very proud spirit and their motto is “Viva il Betis aunque pierda” (Viva il Betis even when it loses).

They start with 4411, which in the pressing phase can become 442. With the full backs (Montoya and Calderon) triggering the wings (Rober and Tello), in a slightly more central position. They are particularly dangerous on the right or when Rober and Canales (left) talk (they are the players with the best technical quality) or when attacking with right-back Montoya. All full backs are very defensive. Montoya, too, often gets stuck in defense. The most prestigious player is N.Fekir (left), a Franco-Algerian attacking midfielder with a great imagination and personality. We also pay attention to his brother, Yassim, who plays left winger.

I deliberately spoke of 4411 and not 4231 because, despite their offensive attitude (natural in a Spanish team), I think we are technically superior and we can dominate possession and territory. It will be important to score early, make a good defensive performance, under construction and score goals. We have to win (minimum goal). We can win large (maximum goal). Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi