MADRID (Reuters) - Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli has taken less than seven months to make his mark at the Spanish team after steering them to a club-record 42 la Liga points at the halfway stage of the season.
Sampaoli's side came from behind to win 4-3 at Osasuna on Sunday, beating their 39-point haul from 19 league games in the 2014-15 campaign under former coach Unai Emery.
Emery, now in charge of Paris St Germain, led Sevilla to 76 points that season, the most in the 126 year-history of the Andalusian club and Sampaoli now has that total in his sights.
"It's going to be difficult but we will try to do it," Sampaoli told reporters.
Sevilla's lone La Liga title came in 1945-46 and they have been runners-up four times, the last 60 years ago.
They have, however, captured nine trophies since 2000, including a record five Europa League titles and three in a row under Emery.
Sampaoli, who guided Chile to Copa America glory in 2015, beating a Lionel Messi-led Argentina in the final, is in his first coaching job in Europe.
The Argentine has steered Sevilla to the Champions League last 16 and to second spot in La Liga, one point behind leaders Real and one clear of Barcelona, mainly due to their prolific forwards.
"A lot of the points that we have has to do with our attack," Sampaoli said.
Sevilla's 42 goals make them the third most prolific team in La Liga, behind Barcelona (51) and Real Madrid (48) and they have dropped only three points in nine games at their Sanchez Pizjuan stadium, the division's best home record.
They have also prospered on their travels with Sunday's win their fifth in 10 away games.
Only third-place Barcelona have done better, the Catalan club having taken 23 points away from the Nou Camp in 10 games.
