There is a standout fixture on the opening matchday of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign, with Sevilla welcoming Valencia to Estadio Ramon for what should be a fascinating affair.
Both teams desperately underachieved in La Liga last season, with Sevilla ending the season down in 12th position, while Valencia were 16th, only just surviving relegation to the second tier of Spanish football.
Match preview
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Sevilla would have been glad to put a difficult 2022-23 La Liga season behind them, with the team seriously underachieving last term considering their talent, finishing down in 12th spot in the table on 49 points.
Los Nervionenses managed to save their campaign, though, by winning the Europa League, which directly qualified them for the group stage of the 2023-24 Champions League, so they will once again be present in the biggest cup competition in European football.
Jose Luis Mendilibar arrived as head coach in March and boasts an excellent record at the helm, winning eight, drawing six and losing three of his 17 matches, and the 62-year-old will be expected to have the team challenging for a top-four spot in La Liga this term.
Sevilla have played eight times during a busy pre-season, and they will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with domestic rivals Atletico Madrid on August 6.
The Europa League holders have made three new signings this summer, bringing in Loic Bade, Djibril Sow and Adria Pedrosa, while Karim Rekik and Rony Lopes have both left the club permanently.
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Valencia's 16th-placed finish in La Liga last season was their worst final spot in Spain's top flight since being relegated at the end of the 1984-85 campaign, which is an indication of their problems.
The six-time Spanish champions only picked up 42 points from their 28 matches in 2022-23, and they were only two points clear of the relegation zone at the end of the season.
Los Che will now be looking forward, but they have only managed to bring in two new players this summer in the shape of Cenk Ozkacar and Pepelu, while Yunus Musah, Edinson Cavani and Toni Lato are among those to have left.
Ruben Baraja's side have had a successful pre-season in terms of results, winning their opening four friendlies against Nottingham Forest, Spartak Trnava, St Gallen and Alaves, although they will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.
Valencia will be aware of the importance of making a strong start to the season, but the supporters will be hoping that there are more additions to the squad before the end of the window, as the team are currently looking short of goals in the final third of the field.
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Team News
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Bade, who was on loan at Sevilla last season, is in line to make his official debut for the home side on Friday, while there is also expected to be a debut in central midfield for Sow.
Sevilla have not reported any injuries, so head coach Mendilibar is expected to have a full squad available, with the likes of Lucas Ocampos, Ivan Rakitic and Jesus Navas set to start.
There has been speculation surrounding Youssef En-Nesyri's future this summer, but the Morocco international, who scored 18 times last season, remains at the club and should lead the line for the hosts.
Valencia, meanwhile, will once again be without the services of forward Marcos de Sousa with a long-term knee problem, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape.
Ozkacar and Pepelu are set to make their debuts for Los Che, while Uros Racic is back at the club following a loan spell at Braga and could feature in central midfield.
Head coach Baraja is not exactly blessed with numbers in the final third of the field, so there could be a start for 22-year-old Alberto Mari alongside Hugo Duro and Samu Castillejo.
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Navas, Bade, Marcao, Acuna; Rakitic, Sow, Jordan; Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Lamela
Valencia possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Correia, Ozkacar, Paulista, Gaya; Pepelu, Almeida, Racic; Castillejo, Duro, Mari
We say: Sevilla 2-1 Valencia
Two of the last three league meetings between these two sides have finished level, while Sevilla are unbeaten against Valencia in Spain's top light since March 2019. We came close to backing a draw here, but Sevilla should be winning this type of match at Estadio Ramon considering their quality, so a home success is being predicted.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
