Numancia 2 - 1 Sevilla FC

Numancia v FC Sevilla: Preview

Updated: November 12, 2004, 4:04 PM UK

Rock-bottom Numancia will be hoping to turn the corner when sporting director Maximo Hernandez presides over his first league game at the helm for the visit of high-flying Sevilla.

Francisco Lopez Alfaro was shown the door on Monday after the Soria club suffered their fifth successive defeat last weekend at the hands of fellow strugglers Racing Santander.

They find themselves bottom of the table on five points, with just one win to their credit so far this term.

Hernandez has taken temporary control as the club search for Lopez Alfaro's permanent successor, and enjoyed a winning start in midweek courtesy of a penalty shoot-out victory over Cordoba in the Copa del Rey.

Striker Lee Chun Soo missed last weekend's defeat to Racing with a knee injury but is raring to go against Sevilla and believes the change of coach can give the team the boost they need.

"This is a key match for us with a new coach and a new start, hopefully the win in the Cup will give us the spur that we need to get our season going," he said.

The Andalucian side will, however, provide tough opposition having made a promising start to the season.

They are fourth in the table, one point behind second-placed Real Madrid, and Hernandez knows his side must "keep the scoreline down to zero to allow us to attack and control the game".

Numancia's Julio Pineda has a knee problem - the first injury of his professional career - which has ruled him out of the match, and the Andalucian is understandably disappointed.

"While this kind of thing never comes at a good time this is extremely bad for me. Practically all this season I have waited for this match and now I cannot play. I am from Seville and there will be a lot of interest that week in Numancia," he said.

"I would have liked to have played against Sevilla, it is where I grew up. But now all I can think about is to recuperate as soon as possible so that I will be able to help my team-mates on the pitch."

Pineda feels that Sevilla's fine form of late is reward for the hard work that the coach and the team have put in.

"The truth is that they are having a great time in the league. I have always said that you should look out for Joaquin Caparros.

"I have had him as a trainer and I have always liked him. From when I arrived at Sevilla he gradually moved up through the club and now he has helped them into the UEFA Cup and made them one of the best teams in the league," he said.

Sevilla will be able to turn to Pep Marti, who has missed the last two matches through suspension and injury, while Jesus Mora `Jesuli' also returns to the team after a month and half out through a leg strain.