Sevilla will be aiming to record just their fourth La Liga victory of the 2023-24 campaign when they welcome Alaves to Estadio Ramon on Friday night.
The home side have again struggled this season, picking up just 16 points from 19 matches, which has left them down in 16th spot in the table, while Alaves are 15th, boasting 17 points from their opening 19 games, with both sides dangerously close to the bottom three.
Match preview
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Sevilla are on their third permanent manager of the season, with Jose Luis Mendilibar and Diego Alonso losing their jobs this term, with Quique Sanchez Flores appointed on December 18.
The 58-year-old has managed two wins and two defeats from his four matches at the helm, with one of those victories coming last time out, as Sevilla secured their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey courtesy of a 2-1 success over Racing Ferrol.
Sanchez Flores also won his first La Liga match at the helm, which proved to be a 3-0 success over Granada on December 19, but the team have lost their last two in Spain's top flight against Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, with the results leaving them down in 16th spot in the table.
Los Nervionenses are only one point ahead of 18th-placed Cadiz, and they have won just three league games during another disappointing campaign.
Sevilla finished in 12th position last term, which proved to be their worst final spot since being relegated at the end of the 1999-2000 campaign, and it has been another difficult season, with the team unrecognisable from the one that has finished fourth in three of the last four campaigns.
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Alaves, as mentioned, are just above Sevilla in the table, sitting 15th, boasting a record of four wins, five draws and 10 defeats from 19 matches, which has brought them 17 points.
Goals have been a serious problem for the Basque outfit this term, only managing 15 in their 19 matches in Spain's top flight, which is the second-worst attacking record behind Cadiz (14), but they have only conceded 25 times, which is a solid record considering their position in the table.
The Blue and Whites secured a return to Spain's top flight through last season's Segunda Division playoffs, so any position above the relegation zone would be considered to be a successful campaign.
Luis Garcia's side will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey round of 32, while they drew 1-1 with Real Sociedad away from home in their last league match, so it has been a positive start to 2024 for the club.
Alaves are also unbeaten in their last three top-flight fixtures with Sevilla, including a 4-3 success when the two teams locked horns for the reverse match earlier this season.
Team News
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Sevilla have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks, and the home side will again be without a number of important players for this contest.
Nemanja Gudelj, Dodi Lukebakio, Mariano Diaz and Alfonso Pastor are all definitely out, while Joan Jordan, Marcos Acuna, Jesus Navas, Erik Lamela and Orjan Nyland are major doubts.
Sevilla will also be missing Youssef En-Nesyri, with the forward set to represent Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations, so Rafa Mir and Lucas Ocampos could feature in the final third of the field, which was the case against Racing Ferrol in the Copa del Rey last time out.
As for Alaves, Jon Guridi and Aleksandar Sedlar will miss the match through injury, while Abdel Abqar, like En-Nesyri, is heading to the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
On-loan Atletico Madrid forward Giuliano Simeone has recovered from a serious ankle issue to feature in the team's last two matches, and he should again be involved off the bench here.
There will be changes from the side that started against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, with Andoni Gorosabel, Antonio Blanco and Samu Omorodion among those expected to return to the XI, while on-loan Real Madrid centre-back Rafa Marin should shake off a knock to feature in the middle of the defence.
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Juanlu, Bade, Ramos, Salas, Pedrosa; Sow, Rakitic, Suso; Ocampos, Mir
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Gorosabel, Tenaglia, Marin, J Lopez; Blanco, Guevara; Rioja, Benavidez, Rebbach; Omorodion
We say: Sevilla 2-1 Alaves
Sevilla desperately need a win, but their home record has been poor this season, picking up just 10 points from 10 matches. Alaves have struggled on their travels, though, collecting only four points from 10 games, and we are backing the hosts to secure what would be a huge three points on Friday night.
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