Azerbaijan
Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
South Africa

Sevillavs.Granada

sportsmole.co.uk, 3 May 2024, 16:01
Sevilla play host to relegation-threatened Granada in Sunday's La Liga gameweek 34 clash at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Quique Sanchez Flores's men are keen to end the campaign positively, having avoided defeat in the last four, but they face a motivated side that could lose their top-flight status if this weekend's results go against them.

Match preview

Sevilla were anticipated to end this season in the bottom half, but a late-season resurgence could cause a rise in the standings.

Los Nervionenses had claimed one win in five (two defeats) before a 1-0 triumph over Getafe in late March led to a four-game unbeaten turnaround, witnessing three victories on the trot and a hard-fought draw in last week's Seville derby with Real Betis (1-1).

Sanchez Flores's team have kept two clean sheets in those games, matching their tally of shutouts from the previous 12 league games, and they hope to prevent this weekend's opponents from scoring on Sunday.

With 38 points accrued from 33 matches, the Andalusians are five shy of 10th-placed Getafe and seven adrift of Villarreal in ninth, making a top-half finish achievable for Rojiblancos.

Despite a pitiful home record for much of 2023-24, three wins from their last four (one loss) points to a late-season improvement in Seville, giving the hosts the edge against the second-bottom visitors.

Sevilla's aim to notch a sixth win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan faces a desperate Granada side keen to avoid relegation from the top division.

Jose Ramon Sandoval is the second-bottom club's third head coach this term, with the struggling side jettisoning Paco Lopez and Alexander Medina, seeking the necessary turnaround to beat the drop.

Despite the new man recently claiming seven points from an available nine following marginal defeats to Cadiz and Valencia, the Andalusians are 19th on 21 points, 10 adrift of Celta in 17th.

With only five games remaining, and a meeting with Celta on the penultimate gameweek of 23-24, the Nasrids must claim wins leading up to round 37 and hope the fourth-bottom club stay winless in that period.

That seems unrealistic for the Vigo-based side with two wins in their recent five league games, pointing to eventual relegation for Granada, whose fate could be sealed in Seville.

A loss for Sandoval's team this weekend and victories for 16th-placed Real Mallorca (32 points) and Celta (31) against Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, respectively, will see the second-bottom club return to the Segunda Division.

Sevilla La Liga form:

D

L

W

W

W

D

Granada La Liga form:

L

L

L

W

D

W

Team News

Suso is suspended for Sevilla this weekend, having picked up a booking in the Seville derby at Betis. Djibril Sow (finger), Adria Pedrosa (muscle), Nemanja Gudelj (knee), Oliver Torres (shoulder) and Isaac Romero (hamstring) are all missing through injury for the hosts.

Youssef En-Nesyri has notched 12 league goals for the home side this term, and the Morocco international seeks to add to that tally this weekend.

Orjan Nyland has made 57 saves for the hosts, ranking among the highest in the Spanish top flight in 23-24.

The Sevilla goalkeeper's counterpart — Augusto Batalla — has made 54 saves despite featuring in four fewer fixtures (19-15), and the Granada shot-stopper hopes to make the difference on Sunday.

Myrto Uzuni (11 goals) trails En-Nesyri by one goal, and he aims to equal the Moroccan in gameweek 34.

Raul Torrente, Antonio Puertas and Oscar Melendo are seemingly touch-and-go for round 34's visit to Sevilla, while Jesus Vallejo is said to be ruled out.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Navas, Bade, Ramos, Acuna; Lamela, Soumare, Agoume, Ocampos; Lukebakio, En-Nesyri

Granada possible starting lineup:

Batalla; Mendez, Rubio, Miquel, Neva; Pellistri, Alonso, Gumbau, Jozwiak; Boye, Uzuni

We say: Sevilla 2-1 Granada

This weekend is anticipated to end Sandoval's mini-revival at Granada. The away side have won just one of their last 11 top-flight derbies against Andalusian sides, and they travel to Sevilla, where they have been defeated in 18 of their 22 visits (drawing two and winning as many).

Backing Sanchez Flores's men to record a sixth home triumph is the logical expectation.

Previews by email

Top News

2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Romania will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 friendly matches on Tuesday evening, with Bulgaria their opponents at Stadionul Steaua in Bucharest. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hungary travel to the Aviva Stadium to face the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday evening in the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England head coach Gareth Southgate was without as many as seven players for Sunday's training session as the Three Lions prepare to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Monday's friendly. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has insisted that he is not to blame for the club's big-money moves for the likes of Antony and Casemiro during his time at Old Trafford. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 warm-up fixtures on Tuesday evening, with Estonia their opponents at the Swissporarena in Lucerne. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are under pressure to make some first-team sales during this summer's transfer window due to their ongoing financial issues, and a number of high-profile players have been linked with exits. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Before their respective Euro 2024 campaigns take precedence, Austria and Serbia commence their preparations for the tournament on Tuesday, meeting in Vienna for an international friendly. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he wants to bring a new central midfielder to Old Trafford during this summer's transfer window. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Before attempting to upset the Euro 2024 Group C apple cart, Slovenia play their first of two warm-up friendlies on Tuesday, hosting Armenia at the Stozice Stadium. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly joined the race for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Preparations for Euro 2024 are in full swing for Gareth Southgate's England, who are being put through their paces at St George's Park before jetting off to Germany for the latest edition of the continental championships. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has revealed that no decision has been made on Jadon Sancho's future. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly assessing whether to make an approach for a defender who is currently plying his trade in Primeira Liga. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has claimed that Luke Shaw "will never be able to play 60 games in a year" due to the severe leg injury that occurred earlier in his career. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed that he wants to bring a centre-back, central midfielder and centre-forward to Old Trafford during this summer's transfer window. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The season is over and while the transfer window doesn't technically open until June 14, clubs across the UK and Europe are free to get deals in place ahead of next season. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Mineiro vs. Bahia (Sunday, 8.00pm) Atletico Mineiro host second-placed Bahia in Sunday's round seven Brasileiro encounter at Arena MRV. 2 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estudiantes and Godoy Cruz return to action in the Argentine Primera Division when they go head to head at the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi on Monday. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly enquired about highly-rated Barcelona defender Mikayil Faye. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany will be missing the players involved in the 2024 Champions League final when they take to the field against Ukraine in a friendly on Monday night. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany will play the first of their two pre-Euro 2024 friendlies on Monday evening, with fellow European Championship participants Ukraine their opponents at the Max-Morlock-Stadion. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly prepared to step up their pursuit of Crystal Palace forward Eberechi Eze, who expects the Eagles to honour a gentleman's agreement to allow him to depart. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid concluded their 2023-24 campaign in style on Saturday evening by winning the Champions League final. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid secured their 15th European Cup courtesy of a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Saturday evening, with Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior coming up with the goals. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has selected a provisional 29-man squad for this summer's Copa America in the United States. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior scored the goals as Real Madrid recorded a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in Saturday night's Champions League final at Wembley Stadium. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have won the European Cup for the 15th time in their history courtesy of a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Youssouf Fofana has confirmed his plan to leave Monaco this summer amid interest from Arsenal and Manchester United. 1 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly interested in Nottingham Forest defender Murillo.