Almeria vs Sevilla preview - Iborra targeting away success

Posted Saturday, January 10, 2015 by PA

Vicente Iborra is hoping for more success on the road as Sevilla seek to keep the pressure on the top four in the Primera Division.

The Andalusians start the weekend in fifth, one point behind Valencia but with a game in hand on Los Che. They have won three and drawn one of last four league matches since a 5-1 defeat at Barcelona and saw off Granada 2-1 away in the Copa del Rey last 16 on Thursday night.

Midfielder Iborra, who started at Los Carmenes for the first time since being sidelined by an ankle injury, looked disappointed at the concession of a late goal which kept the tie open, and told his club's official website: "I think we have to be critical (of ourselves) in that regard, we have to improve that, and keep winning away from home. Almeria will be a tough opponent to face but we want to continue pushing."

"We cannot think that (the cup tie) is all over, and we have a return game left in front of our fans, but we managed to get a good result and now we need to think about Almeria."

Sunday morning's opponents Almeria are 15th in the table after winning back-to-back league games - one either side of the winter break. Previously, Juan Ignacio Martinez's side had gone nine games without a win.

Almeria have strengthened their squad with the signing of 22-year-old midfielder Juan Antonio Espinosa from Villarreal on loan until the end of the season, and he could even feature this weekend.

Quique Gonzalez will be out for three to four weeks with a hamstring injury, joining goalkeeper Ruben on the sidelines. Defenders Michel and Ximo Navarro are suspended while Jonathan Zongo and Thievy Bifouma are on African Nations Cup duty with Burkina Faso and Congo respectively.