Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 9 August 2023, 09:27
There is a standout fixture on the opening matchday of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign, with Sevilla welcoming Valencia to Estadio Ramon for what should be a fascinating affair.

Both teams desperately underachieved in La Liga last season, with Sevilla ending the season down in 12th position, while Valencia were 16th, only just surviving relegation to the second tier of Spanish football.

Match preview

Sevilla would have been glad to put a difficult 2022-23 La Liga season behind them, with the team seriously underachieving last term considering their talent, finishing down in 12th spot in the table on 49 points.

Los Nervionenses managed to save their campaign, though, by winning the Europa League, which directly qualified them for the group stage of the 2023-24 Champions League, so they will once again be present in the biggest cup competition in European football.

Jose Luis Mendilibar arrived as head coach in March and boasts an excellent record at the helm, winning eight, drawing six and losing three of his 17 matches, and the 62-year-old will be expected to have the team challenging for a top-four spot in La Liga this term.

Sevilla have played eight times during a busy pre-season, and they will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with domestic rivals Atletico Madrid on August 6.

The Europa League holders have made three new signings this summer, bringing in Loic Bade, Djibril Sow and Adria Pedrosa, while Karim Rekik and Rony Lopes have both left the club permanently.

Valencia's 16th-placed finish in La Liga last season was their worst final spot in Spain's top flight since being relegated at the end of the 1984-85 campaign, which is an indication of their problems.

The six-time Spanish champions only picked up 42 points from their 28 matches in 2022-23, and they were only two points clear of the relegation zone at the end of the season.

Los Che will now be looking forward, but they have only managed to bring in two new players this summer in the shape of Cenk Ozkacar and Pepelu, while Yunus Musah, Edinson Cavani and Toni Lato are among those to have left.

Ruben Baraja's side have had a successful pre-season in terms of results, winning their opening four friendlies against Nottingham Forest, Spartak Trnava, St Gallen and Alaves, although they will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

Valencia will be aware of the importance of making a strong start to the season, but the supporters will be hoping that there are more additions to the squad before the end of the window, as the team are currently looking short of goals in the final third of the field.

Sevilla friendly form:

Valencia friendly form:

Team News

Bade, who was on loan at Sevilla last season, is in line to make his official debut for the home side on Friday, while there is also expected to be a debut in central midfield for Sow.

Sevilla have not reported any injuries, so head coach Mendilibar is expected to have a full squad available, with the likes of Lucas Ocampos, Ivan Rakitic and Jesus Navas set to start.

There has been speculation surrounding Youssef En-Nesyri's future this summer, but the Morocco international, who scored 18 times last season, remains at the club and should lead the line for the hosts.

Valencia, meanwhile, will once again be without the services of forward Marcos de Sousa with a long-term knee problem, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape.

Ozkacar and Pepelu are set to make their debuts for Los Che, while Uros Racic is back at the club following a loan spell at Braga and could feature in central midfield.

Head coach Baraja is not exactly blessed with numbers in the final third of the field, so there could be a start for 22-year-old Alberto Mari alongside Hugo Duro and Samu Castillejo.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Dimitrovic; Navas, Bade, Marcao, Acuna; Rakitic, Sow, Jordan; Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Lamela

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Correia, Ozkacar, Paulista, Gaya; Pepelu, Almeida, Racic; Castillejo, Duro, Mari

We say: Sevilla 2-1 Valencia

Two of the last three league meetings between these two sides have finished level, while Sevilla are unbeaten against Valencia in Spain's top light since March 2019. We came close to backing a draw here, but Sevilla should be winning this type of match at Estadio Ramon considering their quality, so a home success is being predicted.

Previews by email

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah has revealed that he 'decided not to sulk' when being exiled from the first-team squad by Enzo Maresca. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford will look to pick up their first away points of the season when they travel to Goodison Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to continue their respective unbeaten runs, Millwall and league leaders Sunderland will clash for a tasty-looking Championship battle at The Den on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to extend their unbeaten start to the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to The Smisa Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face St Mirren. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Heading back to his old stomping ground for a weekend, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca takes his Blues team to the King Power Stadium for a Premier League lunchtime date with Leicester City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With three points separating them in the bottom half of the Championship table, Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City will do battle at Hillsborough on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City head coach Steve Cooper could be without as many as five attackers for Saturday's Premier League showdown with Chelsea at the King Power Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to halt their worrying winless run, Preston North End will welcome Derby County to Deepdale for an all-important Championship clash on Saturday afternoon in Lancashire. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is of the opinion that Leicester City hold the advantage ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Rio Ferdinand was left stunned after learning that he almost became teammates with Robert Lewandowski at Manchester United. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed yet another injury to the luckless Reece James ahead of Saturday lunchtime's Premier League fixture against Leicester City. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rangers, aiming to build consistent form after a challenging start to the season, host Dundee United at Ibrox Stadium on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly identified Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez as their leading forward target for next summer, with the Red Devils believed to have put a plan in place to sign the Argentina international. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Enzo Maresca has revealed that Chelsea captain Reece James has been dealt another injury blow. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oxford United play host to Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will move them away from the relegation zone. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City play host to Burnley on Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to catapult themselves up the Championship table. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After losing four games in a row across all competitions for the first time under manager Pep Guardiola, Manchester City will endeavour to return to winning ways during a tricky fixture schedule leading up to Christmas. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The faltering title hopefuls meet the unexpected Champions League challengers on Saturday afternoon, as Arsenal and Nottingham Forest collide at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League. 21 November 2024 talksport.com The chance to make your first senior start in professional football is what any player dreams of - unless you've been up partying all night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo will have to assess a couple of his international contingent before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo has opened up on what the impact of moving to Saudi Arabia had on his family. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has several fitness doubts to assess for Saturday's Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest at the Emirates. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Remarkably only separated by goal difference in the Premier League standings, ailing Arsenal and high-flying Nottingham Forest prepare for an intriguing battle at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be aiming to make it successive wins in La Liga when they travel to Leganes on Sunday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City could be boosted by the return of several first-team stars for Saturday's Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur at the Etihad Stadium. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will endeavour to close the five-point gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool when they welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Juan Mata has made history by investing in new MLS outfit San Diego FC. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim's first taste of Premier League football will come on Sunday afternoon, when he leads his Manchester United team against Ipswich Town at Portman Road. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ruben Amorim is reportedly backing Manchester United to re-sign Angel Gomes as part of his Old Trafford rebuild. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Celtic will be looking to remain top of the Scottish Premiership when they take on Hearts at an unusual time this weekend.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon