Sevilla will be aiming to record just their fourth La Liga victory of the 2023-24 campaign when they make the trip to the capital on Monday evening to take on Rayo Vallecano.
The visitors are currently down in 16th position in the table, just one point clear of the relegation zone, while Rayo occupy 13th, eight points ahead of the bottom three.
Match preview
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Rayo have won five, drawn nine and lost eight of their 22 league matches this season to collect 24 points, which has left them in 13th position in Spain's top flight.
The capital side are five points behind 10th-placed Getafe and eight points ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, so they should be looking up the table rather than down, although their recent form has been disappointing.
Francisco's side have only won once in the league since October, and they have collected just one point from their last three matches, drawing at Real Sociedad either side of losses to Las Palmas and Atletico Madrid.
Rayo came close to claiming what would have been an excellent point away to Atletico on Wednesday evening, but Memphis Depay made it 2-1 to Diego Simeone's side in the 90th minute.
Los Franjirrojos, who finished 11th in Spain's top flight last season, are unbeaten in their last four La Liga matches with Sevilla, including a 2-2 draw in the reverse game at Estadio Ramon back in October.
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Sevilla, meanwhile, have had another hugely difficult season in Spain's top flight, and Quique Sanchez Flores's team are fighting to avoid what would be a damaging relegation to the Segunda Division.
The Europa League holders finished fourth in 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22 before being forced to settle for 12th last season, but their campaign was saved by triumphing in Europe to qualify for the Champions League.
Sevilla finished bottom of their Champions League group to exit Europe altogether, though, and they are currently down in 16th position in the La Liga table, just one point ahead of the relegation zone.
Los Nervionenses are on course for their worst league season since being relegated in 1999-2000, but they managed to end a four-game losing run in Spain's top flight last weekend by drawing 1-1 with Osasuna.
Sevilla have the fourth-worst away record in La Liga this term, only picking up six points from 10 matches, but Rayo have also struggled at home, claiming just eight points from 10 games in front of their own fans.
Team News
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Rayo will be missing Diego Mendez on Monday due to a muscular problem, while Bebe remains unavailable, with the attacker in action at the Africa Cup of Nations for Cape Verde.
Miguel Crespo joined the club on loan from Fenerbahce in the closing stages of the January transfer window, and the midfielder is in line to make his debut for the club here.
Unai Lopez will be back in the squad, having served the suspension which ruled him out against Atletico, and he is expected to return in a central area for the home side.
As for Sevilla, Kike Salas, Nemanja Gudelj and Dodi Lukebakio are out through injury, while Erik Lamela and Mariano Diaz remain major doubts.
The visitors will also be missing Suso and Sergio Ramos through suspension, with the former sent off against Osasuna last time out and the latter picking up a milestone booking.
Youssef En-Nesyri could return to the squad, with his Morocco side now out of the Africa Cup of Nations, but new loan signing from Tottenham Hotspur Alejo Veliz is not yet ready to feature due to a knee problem.
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Aridane, Lejeune, Espino; Ratiu, U Lopez, Valentin, Chavarria; Palazon, Camello, A Garcia
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Bade, Nianzou, Marcao; Navas, Torres, Agoume, Soumare, Acuna; Romero, Ocampos
We say: Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Sevilla
Sevilla have struggled on their travels this season, but Rayo have won just one of their 10 league games in front of their own supporters. Three of the last four La Liga games between these two sides have finished level, meanwhile, and we are expecting the points to be shared once again on Monday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
