Sevilla will attempt to bounce back from successive defeats in La Liga when they continue their campaign with a fixture against Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Ramon on Sunday afternoon.
The home side are currently 13th in the La Liga table, picking up 15 points from their opening 13 matches of the season, while Rayo Vallecano are 12th, one point ahead of their opponents in Spain's top flight this weekend.
Match preview
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Sevilla have won four, drawn three and lost six of their 13 La Liga matches this season to collect 15 points, which is only enough for 13th spot in the table, already nine points off the Champions League spots in Spain's top flight.
Los Nervionenses finished fourth in three straight seasons between 2020 and 2022, but they have been 12th and 14th in their last two La Liga campaigns, and it does appear that it could be another tough season for the club.
Garcia Pimienta's side suffered back-to-back losses to Real Sociedad and Leganes before the international break, with their last success proving to be a 3-0 win over Las Rozas in the Copa del Rey at the end of October.
Sevilla have only managed one win in their last four league matches, suffering three defeats in the process, while they have been beaten in three of their six matches in front of their own supporters in the league this term.
Goals have been an issue during the 2024-25 campaign, only finding the back of the net on 12 occasions, but they are only three points off eighth and could therefore rise up the table with a victory this weekend.
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Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, were beaten 3-1 by Las Palmas in their last match on November 8, with that loss following back-to-back victories over Alaves and Villamuriel in the league and Copa del Rey respectively.
Inigo Perez's side have won four, drawn four and lost four of their 12 league matches this season, while they have both scored and conceded 13, so it has been a solid start to the campaign for the club.
Los Franjirrojos are in their fourth straight season at this level of football, which is their best run in La Liga since 2016, but they only just avoided relegation last term, finishing down in 17th spot.
As a result, there is clear room for improvement this season, and their away form has been relatively solid, picking up eight points from six matches, suffering only two defeats in the process.
Rayo Vallecano have only been victorious in one of their last 17 La Liga matches against Sevilla, which was a 1-0 success at Estadio Ramon in October 2022, while the points were shared in a 2-2 draw in the corresponding fixture last term.
Team News
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Sevilla will be without the services of Tanguy Nianzou, Nemanja Gudelj, Orjan Nyland, Chidera Ejuke, Saul Niguez and Stanis Idumbo for this weekend's contest through injury, while Lucien Agoume is suspended after his red card against Leganes.
Agoume's absence could open the door for Juanlu Sanchez to come into the XI, but it might otherwise be the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Leganes last time out.
Isaac Romero is Sevilla's starting centre-forward and will continue through the middle, while Kelechi Iheanacho is also expected to retain his spot in an attacking area for the home side.
As for Rayo Vallecano, Diego Mendez is still out due to a serious knee problem, while Alfonso Espino remains a doubt, but the visitors will be boosted by the returns of two players following suspensions.
Indeed, Abdul Mumin and Unai Lopez are both back in contention for the capital side after serving bans last time out, and the pair are likely to be named in the starting side for this contest.
Jorge de Frutos has come up with three goals from a wide position this season, and the 27-year-old is again expected to be in the Rayo Vallecano XI for Sunday's contest.
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Fernandez; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Sow, Sanchez, Lokonga; Lukebakio, Romero, Iheanacho
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Mumin, Chavarria; De Frutos, Valentin, U Lopez, A Garcia; Palazon, Camello
We say: Sevilla 1-1 Rayo Vallecano
Two of the last three La Liga matches between these two sides have finished level, and we can see the spoils being shared once again on Sunday. Sevilla have not actually drawn a league match since the end of September, but Rayo will fancy their chances of claiming at least a point when the pair lock horns this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
