Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven do battle in Spain on Thursday as both clubs square off in the first leg of their Europa League playoff tie.
At a time when the home side occupy 12th position in the La Liga standings, PSV are down in fourth spot in the Eredivisie table.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having moved four points clear of the relegation zone, everyone associated with Sevilla are beginning to breathe a little easier, but that is not to say that they do not need to keep pushing under Jorge Sampaoli.
Sevilla have been long-term fixtures in European competition and they have now reached a point where they sit eight points adrift of seventh place in Spain's top flight.
That is a consequence of four victories coming from their most recent six league games, each of those wins coming at Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and one of the two defeats occurring at Barcelona.
At some stage, Sevilla's away form will have to improve, but there appears to be growing momentum under Sampaoli ahead of a return to European duties.
Los Nervionenses are participating in the Europa League having finished in third spot behind Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund in their Champions League group.
© Reuters
From PSV's perspective, they had to be content with finishing as runners-up to Arsenal in their Europa League equivalent, despite earning a win over the Premier League giants at the Philips Stadion.
However, Ruud van Nistelrooy's side are now very much in transition after the sales of Noni Madueke and Cody Gakpo, with Thorgan Hazard and Fabio Silva arriving as their replacements.
PSV have been far from their usual selves in the Eredivisie this campaign, losing five of their 21 matches to only sit in fourth place, four points adrift of leaders Feyenoord.
Nevertheless, they have responded from letting slip a two-goal lead at the frontrunners to score nine times versus Emmen and FC Groningen in KNVB Beker and league games over the past week.
Team News
© Reuters
Sampoli may opt to err on the side of caution for the first leg, using Marcos Acuna at left wing-back instead of Bryan Gil despite the Tottenham Hotspur loanee impressing at the weekend.
Having been able to rest players during the closing stages versus Mallorca, the rest of the side could potentially stay the same.
Gonzalo Montiel, Joan Jordan and Ivan Rakitic are all options if Sampaoli wishes to add fresh legs to his team.
During the six-goal thrashing of Groningen, Van Nistelrooy was able to rest many of his key men, something which could result in an unchanged XI being selected for this contest.
Phillipp Mwene will be considered for a return in one of the full-back positions if he has fully recovered from concussion.
Youngster Johan Bakayoko will hope to keep his place on the right flank after impressing at the weekend, the 19-year-old netting his fourth goal of the campaign.
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Nianzou, Bade, Gudelj; Navas, Fernando, Gueye, Acuna; Suso, Torres; En Nesyri
PSV Eindhoven possible starting lineup:
Benitez; Teze, Ramalho, Branthwaite, Van Aanholt; Sangare, Veerman; Bakayoko, Simons, Hazard; De Jong
We say: Sevilla 2-1 PSV Eindhoven
On paper and current form, this feels like an extremely well-matched tie, and one that we expect to go the distance before a ball has been kicked. However, as far as Thursday is concerned, we are backing Sevilla to continue their recent resurgence and battle their way to victory by the goal in three.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
