Sevilla are viewing their Primera Division clash with Valencia on
Sunday as a final, according to goalkeeper Andres Palop.
The Andalusian side are sixth at the moment, six points
behind their opponents who occupy third, a position much coveted by
Palop, but their league form is scratchy at best - before last
weekend's hard-fought 1-0 win at home to fellow Andalusian club
Almeria, they had lost four in a row.
"There is talk that this is a final and this is how we see
it," he said. "If we want to be in the top three we have to beat
Valencia."
To that end, Palop has called on the club's supporters to
come out in force on Sunday.
"Against Valencia, the fans can be as important as they were
against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey," he said.
Sevilla eliminated Barca from the cup earlier this month, a
run that continued on Wednesday as they overcame Deportivo La
Coruna.
Depor were 1-0 winners on the night, but a 3-0 deficit from
the first leg meant they missed out on a semi-final place.
Palop believes that competition provides a real opportunity
for silverware.
"We are in two competitions with possibilities," he was
quoted as saying on sevillafc.es.
"In the league, with the form that's carrying Barca, it's
been unreachable, but it's the Copa del Rey, in which we're already
in the semis, where we have more possibilities.
"In the Champions League we're there to compete without
giving up anything."
Sevilla have a last-16 tie against CSKA Moscow to look
forward to next month in Europe's premier club competition.
Looking further to the future, 36-year-old Palop said he had
come to no decision about when he might call it a day.
"I'll play football while my body and mind permit me," he
said. "I have at least a couple of years I have left.
"In Seville I have one more year, and my goal is to well in
Seville.
"I will go step by step, but time will tell.
"I don't know what I'd do if I retired, but I would remain
connected to football.
"Work will dictate whether I stay in Seville.
"I'm at home here in the city and at the club but I can't
live on air. I have to work and I'll be where my job is."
Ivica Dragutinovic is sidelined for Sunday's game, but
Sevilla should be otherwise full-strength.
For Valencia, Jeremy Mathieu, Joaquin and Hedwiges Maduro all
look set to miss out through injury.
They also have work to do to correct their league form after
a disappointing draw against Tenerife on the Canary Islands.
Despite that result, Valencia remain on their own in third,
10 points behind leaders Barca and five adrift of second-placed
Real Madrid.
