Valenciavs.Sevilla

Los Che, who are 14th in the La Liga table, will enter the contest on the back of a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid, while 12th-placed Sevilla were beaten 2-1 at home by Atletico Madrid last time out.

Match preview

Valencia have eased their relegation fears in recent weeks by putting together an excellent run of form, with Los Che unbeaten in their last five league games, recording three wins in the process, including their last two against Mallorca and Real Madrid.

Carlos Corberan's side struck a last-gasp winner against the champions last weekend, with Hugo Duro heading a cross from Rafa Mir into the back of the net in the final moments to secure a famous victory at Bernabeu.

Valencia are not out of the relegation picture, but they are now up in 14th spot in the La Liga table, six points above the bottom three, while they are only two points behind Sevilla in 12th ahead of Friday's contest.

Los Che have been impressive in front of their own fans this season, picking up 24 points from 15 matches courtesy of a record of seven wins, three draws and five defeats, while Sevilla have four wins from 15 away La Liga fixtures this term.

Valencia are unbeaten in their last three league matches with Sevilla, while it was 1-1 when the two sides locked horns for the reverse fixture at Estadio Ramon earlier this season.

Sevilla, meanwhile, will enter the game off the back of a 2-1 home defeat to Atletico Madrid, which made it three straight losses for Garcia Pimienta's side during a disappointing run of form.

Los Nervionenses are 12th in the table, boasting a record of nine wins, nine draws and 12 defeats from 30 matches to collect 36 points, which has left them eight points ahead of 18th-placed Leganes.

Sevilla finished 14th in Spain's top flight last term, which proved to be their worst campaign being relegated at the end of the 1999-2000 season, and there have been a lot of disappointing results again in 2024-25.

Garcia Pimienta's side have only won one of their last six in the league, which came away to Real Sociedad on March 9, but they have a recent success at Mestalla to their name, triumphing 2-0 in the famous stadium in April 2023.

Four of the last six La Liga meetings between the two sides have finished level, though, including a goalless draw at Mestalla in the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign.

Valencia La Liga form:

L

D

W

D

W

W

Sevilla La Liga form:

D

D

W

L

L

L

Team News

Valencia will welcome three players back into their squad on Friday following suspensions, with Luis Rioja, Jose Gaya and Dimitri Foulquier available for selection.

However, Cristian Rivero and Thierry Correia remain on the sidelines due to injury problems.

Foulquier and Gaya are set to come back into the side in the wing-back positions, while there could be a spot at centre-forward for Duro, who came off the bench to head the winner against Real Madrid last time out.

As for Sevilla, Ruben Vargas is a major doubt with the issue that forced him off early against Atletico last time out, while Adria Pedrosa and Tanguy Nianzou could also miss out due to muscular problems.

Vargas's absence, if that is indeed the case, is likely to open the door for Isaac Romero to return to the starting side.

Kike Salas is expected to switch across to left-back, meanwhile, if Pedrosa misses out, with Nemanja Gudelj likely to be the player introduced at the back for the visitors.

Valencia possible starting lineup:

Mamardashvili; Foulquier, Mosquera, Tarrega, Diakhaby, Gaya; D Lopez, Guerra, Barrenechea, Almeida; Duro

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Gudelj, Salas; Lokonga, Agoume, Sow; Lukebakio, Romero, Adams

We say: Valencia 2-1 Sevilla

Valencia have won seven of their 15 La Liga matches at Mestalla this season, and we are backing them to secure another three points here; Sevilla are in disappointing form, and they could be undone by an in-form Los Che outfit.

Written by

Matt Law

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