After taking the reins at Sevilla, manager Jorge Sampaoli has become known for his unpredictable tactics. From placing attacking midfielder Éver Banega in central defense during the Spanish Super Cup to deploying a bold 2-8-0 formation in the La Liga opener—which ended in a thrilling 6-4 win over Espanyol—Sampaoli has kept fans and critics guessing.

In a historic move during the recent league match against Eibar, Sevilla made headlines by fielding an all-foreign starting eleven—a first in La Liga history. Not a single Spanish player was included in the starting lineup, not even Euro 2016 goalkeeper Sergio Rico, who was notably benched by Sampaoli. The eleven starters hailed from six different countries, showcasing the truly international flavor of the squad.

Among them, Mercado, Kranevitter, Correa, and Vietto represented Argentina; Rami, Kolo, and Ben Yedder flew the French flag; while Sirigu, Carriço, Ganso, and Hiroshi Kiyotake hailed from Italy, Portugal, Brazil, and Japan respectively. Despite enjoying clear dominance on the field and even gaining a two-man advantage late in the game, Sevilla could only settle for a draw with Eibar.

The match’s lone goal for Sevilla came courtesy of a moment of brilliance from Japanese international Hiroshi Kiyotake. In the 27th minute, he surged 50 meters through midfield before slicing a razor-sharp left-footed pass between three defenders. Vietto timed his run perfectly, broke free on goal, and coolly slotted it past the keeper.

Kiyotake, who joined Sevilla this summer from Hannover 96, has quickly earned Sampaoli’s trust. He scored a dazzling goal in the league opener and now adds a world-class assist to his growing highlight reel—one that even had shades of Lionel Messi’s playmaking finesse.

While this record-breaking all-foreign lineup might raise eyebrows, it’s a reflection of the global nature of modern football and Sevilla’s commitment to tactical innovation. Whether this approach will lead to long-term success remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: under Sampaoli, Sevilla is anything but predictable.

For more updates and insights into global football trends, explore the latest on Jeetbuzz App Download.