Preview: Sevilla vs. Eibar - prediction, team news, lineups

Sevilla will be looking to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they continue their 2020-21 campaign at home to Eibar on Saturday evening.

Julen Lopetegui 's side, who were in Champions League action during the week, suffered a 1-0 defeat at Granada in their last league game, while Eibar shared the points with Osasuna.

Match preview

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Having beaten Inter Milan in the Europa League final on August 21, Sevilla were back in competitive action just over one month later, suffering a 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Super Cup.

Sevilla's 2020-21 La Liga season started with back-to-back wins over Cadiz and Levante before entering the October international break off the back of a 1-1 draw with Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Lopetegui's side did suffer a 1-0 defeat at Granada on October 17, though, with the volume of matches and quick turnaround surely playing a role in the disappointing loss last time out.

Sevilla were also in Champions League action on Tuesday night and opened their group campaign with a welcome point away to Chelsea.

The games are coming thick and fast for Los Nervionenses at the moment as they are again in Champions League action next week, but Lopetegui will be desperate for his side to return to winning ways in the league as they look for another top-four finish this term.

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Eibar, meanwhile, have collected five points from their first six matches of the new season, boasting a record of one win, two draws and three defeats in 2020-21.

Jose Luis Mendilibar 's side struggled in the early stages of the campaign, losing three straight matches to Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao and Elche, but they recorded an impressive 2-1 victory at Real Valladolid before the international break and then shared the points with Osasuna last weekend.

Eibar's next two after this one are against Cadiz and Huesca, meaning that a positive result this weekend would lead them nicely into two winnable fixtures against the newly-promoted sides.

Los Armeros have not played outside of La Liga since the 2013-14 campaign, but they finished 14th last term and will just be wary of hovering above the relegation zone at this stage of the season.

Sevilla La Liga form: WWDL

Sevilla form (all competitions): LWWDLD

Eibar La Liga form: DLLLWD

Team News

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Sevilla will again be without the services of Jules Kounde due to coronavirus, meaning that Sergi Gomez could again line up alongside Diego Carlos at the heart of the defence.

The home side will also be without Joan Jordan through suspension, with the number eight picking up a red card during the 1-0 defeat to Granada on October 17.

Nemanja Gudelj started against Chelsea on Tuesday and should keep his spot in midfield due to Jordan's absence, while Luuk de Jong, Lucas Ocampos and Suso are likely to continue as the front three.

As for Eibar, Sergio Cubero and Cote are on the sidelines through injury, but Recio and Pedro Bigas could both recover from muscular issues in time for the contest.

Edu Exposito also faces a battle to overcome a knee problem, but Papa Diop is available after suspension and should return for the visitors in midfield.

On-loan Newcastle United forward Yoshinori Muto is still waiting for his first goal for Eibar, but the 28-year-old should again get the nod in the final third of the field.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Bounou; Navas, Gomez, Carlos, Acuna; Gudelj, Fernando, Rakitic; Ocampos, De Jong, Suso

Eibar possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Arbilla, Oliveira, Burgos, Rodrigues; Pozo, Alvarez, Diop, Inui; Muto, Kike

We say: Sevilla 2-0 Eibar

Eibar have had a free week to prepare for this match while Sevilla have been in Champions League action. We are finding it difficult to look past the home side, though, believing that their superior quality will ultimately shine through to secure a comfortable three points in Seville.

Top betting tip

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