After their midweek exertions in the Champions League, Real Madrid return to La Liga action this Sunday as they take on Sevilla at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Sevilla)
Key Statistics
Sevilla have the best home defence in the league this season.
The hosts are the only team in La Liga who are unbeaten at home, having won eleven and drawn four of their 15 home matches this season.
They have won just one of their last five La Liga games (three draws and one loss).
Real Madrid have won their last four away games in all competitions.
The visitors have kept three clean sheets in their last six away games in all competitions.
They are the highest-scoring side away from home in the league this season with 29 goals.
Head to head
Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Sevilla as they have five wins and one draw in that period.
Latest performances in all competitions
Sevilla: W-L-D-L-D
Real Madrid: L-W-W-W-L
Sevilla
Sevilla will look to keep their quest for a top-two finish in La Liga going for another game when they welcome Real Madrid to Ramon Sanchez this Sunday.
The hosts lost second place to Barcelona after losing to the Catalans at Camp Nou a fortnight ago.
However, they returned to winning ways against Granada last week. After going 1-0 down in the 23rd minute the Andalusian clubs rallied together to get back into the tie which they eventually won 4-2, thanks to goals from Diego Carlos, Lucas Ocampos, Rafa Mir and Alejandro Gomez with Victor Diaz grabbing the second for the visitors.
After his acrimonious parting of ways with the national team on the eve of the World Cup, and an even more problematic tenure at Real Madrid, Julen Lopetegui seems to have resurrected his career at Sevilla. His side sit third, are level on points with Barcelona in second place and are well poised to make a return to the Champions League.
Real Madrid have been dominant in this fixture over the years and in their last five games with the capital club, Julen Lopetegui’s men have managed just one draw and four defeats. The Spanish coach will look to make a statement against his former employer when both sides clash at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, knowing that a win against the leaders will kick the title race wide open.
Julen Lopetegui has a handful of players out injured with Suso, Thomas Delaney, Fernando and Karim Rekik all missing due to injury.
Possible Sevilla starting line-up
Yassine Bounou; Jesus Navas, Diego Carlos, Jules Kounde, Ludwig Augustinsson; Ivan Rakitić, Joan Jordan, Nemanja Gudelj; Erik Lamela, Lucas Ocampos, Anthony Martial.
Injured: Fernando Reges, Suso, Karim Rekik
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Real Madrid
Los Blancos, on the other hand, continued their impressive run this season by providing just the perfect response in extra time to beat Chelsea on aggregate after the English team had levelled the tie by grabbing 3 goals between the first and second.
Carlo Ancelotti has been very apt in his handling his side run of the games as we approach the business end of the season.
Los Blancos are leading the pack at the summit of the La Liga table with a 12 point gap which they have done so well to sustain over the weeks despite injury setbacks to some key players.
Real Madrid are the favourites to reclaim the La Liga crown by the end of May, and Carlo Ancelotti will be urging his players to kick Sevilla out of the race for good with a win when both teams meet.
Real Madrid come into this encounter off the back of a 2-0 win over Getafe last weekend and with four wins from their last five games against Sevilla, the Capital Club will feel confident of taking maximum points from Julen Lopetegui’s men.
Ancelotti will be sweating on the fitness of his star striker, Karim Benzema, along with Ferland Mendy, who also remains a doubt. Meanwhile, Eden Hazard is still unavailable as his still recovering from surgery.
Possible Real Madrid starting line-up
Thabiut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy; Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Eduoardo Camavinga; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema.
Injured: Eden Hazard, Jesus Vallejo
Doubtful: Marcelo, Isco, Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos
Suspended: Casemiro
Prediction
Sevilla 1-3 Real Madrid
