Sevilla lost ground in the race for a European qualification spot in La Liga, drawing 1-1 with already relegated Elche on Wednesday. However, the team still has other ways to qualify, as they will face Roma in the UEFA Europa League final after this clash with Real Madrid. This gives manager Jose Luis Mendilibar plenty to ponder as he aims to extend their unbeaten run of six matches in all competitions. Nonetheless, the team spent the first half of the season in the lower half of the table, which would be disappointing if they miss out on continental competition in the spring. After 36 rounds of the current championship, the hosts have recorded 13 wins and 10 draws, totaling 49 points and placing them in ninth position. For this match, Jorddan, Nianzou, and Marcao will not be able to take the field due to injuries, with Marcao suffering from a thigh injury.
Real Madrid has a strong response to offer the hosts, as the club hasn’t lost a single head-to-head match since September 2018. Moreover, they surpassed Atletico Madrid and climbed to the second position by defeating Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on Wednesday. Both that match and this one were rescheduled to give Sevilla more time to prepare for the European final, but it’s unlikely that Madrid will make any further concessions today. Instead, the Madridistas will seek to end their three consecutive away defeats in La Liga, a streak they haven’t experienced since October 2018, ironically starting at this stadium. Furthermore, their last series of four consecutive defeats dates back to 1992, with Sevilla being the team to end that debacle. After 36 rounds, Real Madrid has secured 23 victories and five draws, totaling 74 points and holding the second position in the league table. For this showdown, Diaz and Carvajal will not be able to take the field due to card accumulation, with Carvajal having exceeded the limit.
