Preview: Sevilla vs. Real Betis - prediction, team news, lineups

Both teams will enter this match off the back of European fixtures, with Sevilla suffering a 2-0 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League, while Real Betis beat Aris Limassol 4-1 in the Europa League.

Match preview

Sevilla finished down in 12th position in La Liga last season, which proved to be their worst final spot since being relegated from Spain's top flight at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign.

Los Nervionenses have again been underwhelming this term, only picking up 11 points from their first 11 matches, which has left them down in 15th position in the table.

Sevilla have not been victorious in La Liga since the end of September, losing one and drawing four of their last five games in Spain's top flight, including a 1-1 with Celta Vigo last time out.

Diego Alonso's side were in Champions League action on Wednesday evening, meanwhile, suffering a 2-0 loss to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, with the result leaving them bottom of Group B on two points and facing an uphill struggle when it comes to reaching the round of 16.

The Red and Whites have won 49, drawn 25 and lost 30 of their previous 104 league meetings with Real Betis, but both of their contests in Spain's top flight last season finished all square.

Real Betis have not actually been victorious in a Seville derby since September 2018, which is a run that stretches back nine matches, but there is an argument that they will enter this match as the favourites despite the fact that Sevilla have home advantage.

Manuel Pellegrini's side have been victorious in each of their last five matches, while they are unbeaten in their last 11, with the fixtures taking place across three separate competitions.

The Green and Whites will enter this match off the back of a 4-1 win over Aris Limassol in the Europa League, with the result leaving them at the top of Group C with two games left to play.

Real Betis also thumped Hernan Cortes 12-1 in the Copa del Rey at the start of the month, while they have won their last two in the league against Osasuna and Mallorca to rise into sixth position in the table, boasting 20 points from their opening 12 matches of the campaign.

El Glorioso, who were last beaten by Barcelona in the middle of September, finished sixth in La Liga last season and will certainly have their eyes on another European spot this term.

Sevilla La Liga form:

W

L

D

D

D

D

Sevilla form (all competitions):

D

L

D

W

D

L

Real Betis La Liga form:

D

W

D

D

W

W

Real Betis form (all competitions):

D

W

W

W

W

W

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Team News

Sevilla will again be missing Marcos Acuna, Orjan Nyland, Sergio Ramos, Marcao and Alfonso Pastor through injury for Derbi Sevillano this weekend.

The home side are also expected to be missing Boubakary Soumare due to the injury that the midfielder picked up in the second half of the clash with Arsenal in the Champions League.

Head coach Alonso will make changes from the clash in North London, with Ivan Rakitic, Lucas Ocampos, Jesus Navas and Dodi Lukebakio expected to come back into the XI for Sunday's affair.

As for Real Betis, Rui Silva remains unavailable for selection due to a muscular issue, while Youssouf Sabaly and Marc Bartra are also on the sidelines through injury.

Head coach Pellegrini made a number of changes to his XI for the clash with Aris Limassol in the Europa League, but Ayoze Perez, Isco, Guido Rodriguez, Juan Miranda, Assane Diao, Willian Jose and Hector Bellerin should all be recalled.

Nabil Fekir has now featured in the team's last two matches after a long recovery from a serious knee injury, but he is not expected to be considered for a start at this stage.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Pedrosa; Sow, Jordan, Rakitic; Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Lukebakio

Real Betis possible starting lineup:

Bravo; Bellerin, Pezzella, Riad, Miranda; Rodriguez, Roca; Diao, Isco, Perez; Willian Jose

We say: Sevilla 1-1 Real Betis

The form book points to an away win here, but Real Betis have not beaten Sevilla at Estadio Ramon in the league for almost six years. Both league meetings between the two teams last season were drawn, and we are predicting another stalemate here, which would not be the worst result in the world for either side.

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