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

Jose Luis Mendilibar's side will enter the match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao on Thursday evening, while Girona were 4-2 winners over Real Madrid earlier in the week.

Match preview

This Sevilla are unrecognisable from the one that has struggled for much of the campaign, with the team winning each of their last four matches in all competitions, including the famous 3-0 success over Manchester United in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final.

Mendilibar's side have also won their last three league games against Valencia, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao, while they have picked up 13 points from their last five La Liga fixtures during an excellent run.

Los Nervionenses appeared to be heading for a goalless draw against Athletic on Thursday night, but a 92nd-minute penalty from Lucas Ocampos secured all three points for the visitors to San Mames.

Sevilla had been in trouble towards the bottom of the division, but they are now up in 11th position in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone and just five points behind sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

At the time of writing, the Europa League semi-finalists are just eight points off sixth-placed Real Betis, which is a remarkable turnaround, and they appear to have found their best form at the perfect start of the season.

Girona, meanwhile, will enter the match off the back of a 4-2 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday, which made it three victories in their last five games in Spain's top flight.

Valentin Castellanos scored four times during a stunning performance against Carlo Ancelotti's side, with the result moving the Catalan outfit onto 41 points from their 31 matches, which has left them in 10th, level on points with 11th-placed Sevilla ahead of this match.

Michel's side were promoted to La Liga via last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so any position above 18th would be considered a hugely successful campaign.

Girona have certainly performed above expectations, and their success has been built on an excellent home record, which is the fourth-best in the league, claiming 30 points from 16 matches.

The White and Reds have actually won their last two games against Sevilla, meanwhile, both of which have been on home soil, including a 2-1 success in the corresponding match between the two sides in the middle of January.

Sevilla La Liga form:

L

W

D

W

W

W

Sevilla form (all competitions):

D

D

W

W

W

W

Girona La Liga form:

D

W

D

W

L

W

Team News

Sevilla will again be without the services of Marcao and Joan Jordan through injury, while Jesus Navas and Marcos Acuna are doubts due to a muscular problem and illness respectively.

Tanguy Nianzou was also unavailable against Athletic due to a fitness issue, so the centre-back will need to be assessed before a decision on his involvement in this match is made.

Head coach Mendilibar could shuffle his pack, with Gonzalo Montiel and Alex Telles potentially coming into the full-back areas, while Pape Gueye is likely to feature in the middle of the park.

As for Girona, a lengthy injury list includes Aleix Garcia, Borja Garcia, Toni Villa, David Lopez, Joel Roca, Yangel Herrera and Ibrahima Kebe.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be without the services of in-demand defender Arnau Martinez, who picked up a milestone yellow card in the win over Real Madrid last time out.

Head coach Michel could stick with close the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against the Spanish and European champions, although Reinier and Valery will be in the manager's thinking if he decides to make alterations.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Bono; Montiel, Bade, Gudelj, Telles; Gueye, Rakitic; Ocampos, Suso, Lamela; En-Nesyri

Girona possible starting lineup:

Gazzaniga; Espinosa, Bueno, Juanpe, Gutierrez; Romeu, I Martin, Tsygankov; Couto, Castellanos, Riquelme

We say: Sevilla 1-0 Girona

Both of these sides will be in a confident mood heading into this match, but Girona's away record this season has been disappointing, winning just two of their 15 matches, losing eight times in the process. Sevilla are on a roll at the moment, and we are expecting the hosts to claim all three points.

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