La Liga return for the second week this season as Sevilla welcome returnees Real Valladolid to the Ramon Sanchez stadium this Friday.
Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Sevilla)
Key Statistics
Sevilla lost only one La Liga game at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán last season.
Only Real Madrid (44 points) took more points at home than they did last season (42 points).
The hosts are unbeaten in their last seven home Friday fixtures (W2, D5).
Real Valladolid are winless in their last 13 La Liga games (D6, L7).
They have failed to score more than one goal in their last seven games with Sevilla.
Head to head
Valladolid are unbeaten in their last three games against Sevilla (D3). However, over the last ten meetings between both sides, Sevilla have four wins while the visitors have one win.
Latest performances in all competitions
Sevilla: L-W-L-L-W
Valladolid: L-D-D-D-W
Sevilla
Julen Lopetegui’s men will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Real Valladolid to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán this Friday.
Sevilla opened their La Liga account with a disappointing 2-1 away loss to Osasuna in game week one. In a game in which they dominated on the ball, they were undone by some iffy defending and a lack of cutting edge in attack.
In an entertaining game at the Estadio El Sadar, Osasuna opened the scoring in the ninth minute through Ezequiel Ávila. But Sevilla hit back immediately with Rafa Mir volleying into the net from Alejandro Gómez’s drilled cross.
However, after a frantic first half, the second half was more cagey with few chances. But the hosts still found a way to take home all three points thanks to a 74th-minute penalty goal by Aimar Oroz after Alejandro Gómez clumsily handled in the area.
The result ended a run of five consecutive opening-day wins for the hosts. It also was their first loss to Osasuna in ten meetings.
With their league season having begun on a poor note, Sevilla will be desperate to get back on track to avoid falling far behind in the top four race. A return to the Ramon Sanchez, where they lost just one league game last year will be a boost for the hosts who will fancy their chances of getting a good result on Friday given that they are unbeaten in each of their last seven games played on this day of the week.
Possible Sevilla starting line-up
Yassine Bounou; Jesus Navas, Nemanja Gudelj, Karim Rekik, Marcos Acuna;Oliver Torres, Fernado, Dario Gomez; Lucas Ocampos, Jesus Corona, Rafael Mir.
Injured: Suso, Marcao, Munir El Haddadi
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Real Valladolid
One season after playing La Liga 2 football, Real Valladolid are back in the big top looking to establish themselves as a regular team.
The visitors marked their return to La Liga with a 3-0 loss to Villarreal in their opening game. The result extended their winless run in the top-flight to 13 games, with each of the last five ending in a loss.
Valladolid who ended last season with four consecutive wins and three clean sheets in their last four games were outplayed by a Villarreal side who scored through Nicola Jackson and Alex Baena.
Having ended their last three pre-season games without a win and a goal, the loss to Villareal means that they come into this tie without a goal in their last four outings.
For a team that enjoyed remarkable success in the Segunda División while scoring the most goals (71), they will want to put their early season struggles behind them as they look to remain in the top flight for another season.
Possible Real Valladolid starting line-up
Sergio Asenjo; Luis Perez, Joaquin Fernandez, Javi Sanchez, Lucas Olaza; Roque Mesa Quevedo, Kike Perez, Alvaro Aguado; Oscar Plano, Sergio Limones, Toni Villa.
Injured: Shon Weissman
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Sevilla 1-0 Real Valladolid
