Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
EL Salvador
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
South Africa
United Arab Emirates

Sevillavs.Valencia

sportsmole.co.uk, 9 January 2025, 12:20
Two underperforming giants of Spanish football will lock horns in La Liga on Saturday night, with Sevilla welcoming Valencia to Estadio Ramon, and both teams are desperate for the points due to their struggles this term.

Sevilla are currently down in 14th spot in the La Liga table, only picking up 22 points from their 18 league matches this season, while Valencia sit 19th, with Los Che collecting just 12 points from their 18 games in Spain's top flight this term.

Match preview

Sevilla finished fourth in three straight seasons between 2019 and 2022, but they have been 12th and 14th in their last two campaigns and are again in the bottom half of the table after 18 games of 2024-25.

Last season's 14th-placed finish proved to be Sevilla's worst final position in Spain's top flight since being relegated in 1999-2000, but new head coach Garcia Pimienta has also found it difficult to get the team going this term.

Los Nervionenses have a record of six wins, four draws and eight defeats from their 18 league matches this season, with a total of 22 points leaving them in 14th spot in the table, seven points above the relegation zone.

Sevilla's last La Liga match ended in a 4-2 defeat to Real Madrid on December 22, before suffering a shock 4-1 loss to Almeria in the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey last time out.

The hosts have been relatively strong at Estadio Ramon this season, though, picking up 16 points from nine matches, and they will be welcoming a Valencia outfit that have not won a single La Liga game on their travels in 2024-25.

Valencia will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 victory over Eldense in the Copa del Rey, and they will now take on Ourense CF next week for a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Los Che opened their 2025 with a 2-1 home defeat to Real Madrid in La Liga, though, with the reigning champions scoring twice in the latter stages to turn the game around, and Valencia were left wondering just how they managed to lose.

Carlos Corberan's side are currently 19th in the La Liga table, boasting a record of two wins, six draws and 10 defeats from 18 matches, which has seen them collect 12 points - the same number as basement side Real Valladolid.

It is not quite time to hit the panic button, with Valencia only four points behind 17th-placed Getafe on the same number of matches, but there is a real concern that Los Che could drop out of La Liga for the first time since 1986-87.

Valencia recorded a 2-1 win over Sevilla in the corresponding match last season, but three of the last five top-flight contests between these two teams have ended in a share of the spoils.

Sevilla La Liga form:

L

W

D

L

W

L

Sevilla form (all competitions):

D

W

L

W

L

L

Valencia La Liga form:

L

L

L

D

D

L

Valencia form (all competitions):

L

L

D

D

L

W

Team News

Sevilla welcomed Adria Pedrosa back into their squad against Almeria in the Copa del Rey after a recent injury problem, but Kelechi Iheanacho, Djibril Sow, Chidera Ejuke, Rafa Mir and Tanguy Nianzou are all doubts for the hosts.

Head coach Garcia Pimienta will make changes to the side that started against Almeria, with Jose Angel Carmona, Alvaro Fernandez and Lucien Agoume set to return to the side.

Juanlu Sanchez played further forward against Real Madrid in Sevilla's last league match, and that is expected to be the case this weekend, with Isaac Romero also featuring in the final third of the field.

As for Valencia, Fran Perez, Jose Gaya, Mouctar Diakhaby and Thierry Correia are out of the match through injury, but Pepelu is available after serving a league suspension against Real Madrid.

Head coach Coberan named a strong side against Eldense in the Copa del Rey, and it will be a similar side here, but Andre Almeida, Luis Rioja, Yarek Gasiorowski and Enzo Barrenechea are expected to be introduced.

Hugo Duro has scored five times in 15 La Liga appearances during the 2024-25 campaign, and the Spaniard is set for another start in the final third of the field on Saturday night.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Carmona, Bade, Gudelj, Salas; Lukebakio, Agoume, Lokonga, Idumbo; Sanchez, Romero

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Foulquier, Tarrega, Mosquera, Gasiorowski; D Lopez, Guerra, Barrenechea, Rioja; Duro, Almeida

We say: Sevilla 1-1 Valencia

Valencia are yet to win on their travels in La Liga this season, but they have picked up three draws, and we fancy Los Che to claim a point here; Sevilla will have home advantage, but they have only scored eight times at Estadio Ramon in the league this term, and a low-scoring draw looks to be the most likely outcome on Saturday night.

Written by

Matt Law

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

2 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has reportedly set his sight on playing at the 2026 World Cup and is ready to accept a reduced role with the Citizens next season in order to secure his place with Belgium at the tournament. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly monitored Georgian wonderkid Saba Kharebashvili amidst interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Wilfried Zaha has wasted no time adjusting to life in MLS with Charlotte FC. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a clash that could impact the race for European football and the relegation battle in the Turkish Super Lig, Istanbul Basaksehir are set to host Sivasspor at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Monday. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr cult hero Anderson Talisca has got involved in his old side's affairs, leading to suggestions he was targeting Cristiano Ronaldo. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's teenage starlet Nico O'Reilly was at the double as the Sky Blues secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-1 comeback win over a spirited Plymouth Argyle side at the Etihad Stadium. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes suffered a setback in Seville on Saturday evening, with the reigning champions suffering a 2-1 defeat to Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis outfit. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race for Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez, with Los Blancos preparing to battle a number of clubs for his signature during this summer's transfer window. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Goztepe SK will look to end their four-game winless league run when they welcome Samsunspor to the Gursel Aksel Stadium on Monday. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Wolves talisman Matheus Cunha left his side a man down and out of the FA Cup with a bizarre last minute red card. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during this summer's transfer window. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly view Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim, should the club decide to make another change in the dug-out at the end of the campaign. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Millwall supporters are set to be investigated by the Football Association for homophobic chants aimed at Ben Chilwell. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made 11 changes to his starting lineup for this evening's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The reigning FA Cup holders take on a team who have never won the tournament in Sunday's fifth-round contest, as Manchester United welcome Fulham to their Old Trafford home. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has apparently turned down Los Blancos' first offer of a new contract amid interest from 'several teams' in the burgeoning centre-back. 1 March 2025 talksport.com A new rule is set to be introduced next season to combat time-wasting from goalkeepers. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Following their cup success in midweek, Sporting Lisbon will aim to build on that momentum when they return to Primeira Liga action on Monday for round 24, welcoming Estoril Praia to Estadio Jose Alvalade. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will continue their La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has warned Joshua Kimmich that no player is above the club as the Arsenal-linked midfielder reportedly hesitates over a new contract. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Despite an initially promising start in coaching, John Terry is now set to switch careers. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to rival AC Milan for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Jose Mourinho's four-match ban has been halved and his £35,000 fine reduced after a successful appeal. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not ruled out the prospect of making an effort to sign Chelsea defender Levi Colwill this summer. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Konyaspor will be looking to inject some much-needed momentum into their survival fight in the Turkish Super Lig when they host Trabzonspor at Torku Arena on Monday. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides looking to bounce back from recent defeats in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head on Monday as Gaziantep host Eyupspor at the Gaziantep Stadium 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk AC Milan are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro this summer. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Burnley players refused to shake the hand of Preston's Milutin Osmajic, who was accused of racism by Clarets star Hannibal Mejbri just two weeks ago. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta was rushed to hospital after a shocking challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend.