Sevilla had an excellent performance in La Liga when they were down 0-2 in the 30th minute but managed to play to a 2-2 draw against “Rayo Vallecano” before the international break. Turning draws into victories should now be their goal if they want to climb up the league table and challenge the top half, which proved to be unreachable last season. It’s been more than five years since the hosts defeated “Real” Madrid anywhere, so “Los Rojiblancos” face a tough task to get back into the game, even though their victory in September 2018 was indeed at home. Perhaps defender Sergio Ramos, who is set to face his former club for the first time since leaving in 2021, can inspire them, especially considering that his team hasn’t lost in three home La Liga matches and averages 2.67 goals per game. Ramos played against “Los Blancos” twice in the 2004/05 season when he was with Sevilla, helping his team avoid defeat in both games and scoring one goal. Vacas, who has a knee injury, will be unable to play.
During the break, the league leaders were busy; “Los Blancos” extended the contracts of Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde until 2028 and welcomed back to first-team training Ardo Guler and key defender David Alaba. Considering their ten wins in 11 competitive matches this season, reducing the injury list is undoubtedly ominous for their chasing competitors. A 3-0 victory over high-class “Girona” was a perfect way to recover from the 3-1 loss to “Atletico” in the Madrid derby, and now they have won four out of five away matches in the championship this season. “Los Blancos” look stronger away from home than last year, but they will be ready for a battle, as even though they have won all four previous duels here, all of them were by a margin of just one goal. Guler, Militao, Courtois, and Fernandes are unavailable due to injury and suspension.
