Prediction: Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: Betfair

On Sunday evening, Sevilla will be visiting the recently renovated stadium of Santiago Bernabeu, where they’ll be facing hosts Real Madrid in what will be the 14th La Liga match of the season for both teams. It should be an interesting contest, given that a win would set either side at the top of the table if Real Sociedad don’t beat Espanyol in Barcelona in the afternoon of the same day.

Real Madrid

Much has been made of Real’s failure to win any trophies last term. It’s practically unforgivable, given the club’s vast tradition and the fact that the Spanish top flight has arguably been revolving around two, occasionally three, contenders for the title for a very long time – you’d have to go all the way back to 2003-04 to find the last season when a club not named Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid was crowned champions. Be that as it may, Zinedine Zidane left in the summer to be replaced by Carlo Ancelotti, who came back from Everton to try and return Los Blancos to the paths of old glory.

Real currently top the table with 30 points despite having played a match less than most of the league, so it seems the experienced Italian is on the right track for the time being.

Over in the Champions League, Ancelotti’s men have secured a place in the round of 16, topping Group D after five rounds with 12 points, two more than Inter Milan in second place and six more that Sheriff Tiraspol in third. Shakhtar Donetsk have lost all hope of European football in the spring, sitting at the bottom with one point.

The last-six record in all competitions for Real Madrid consists of a goalless draw played at home against Osasuna, a 1-2 win away to Elche, a 2-1 home win over Shakhar, a home win over Rayo Vallecano by the same scoreline, a 1-4 triumph away to Granada, and the 0-3 win away to Sheriff earlier this week. David Alaba and Toni Kroos ensured a two-goal lead for their team by halftime, and Karim Benzema added the third after the break.

Team News

Real will once more be without midfielder Dani Ceballos and winger Gareth Bale. However, Fede Valverde has recovered from a muscular issue and will be in contention. Alaba is a doubt through a knee issue, and if he isn’t ready to play, Nacho is the man most likely to slot in beside Eder Militao in the heart of defence.

Benzema is likely to have Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes on his flanks upfront, with Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez condemned to wait on the bench. Eden Hazard will likely be left out completely again, with Ancelotti openly admitting he prefers other players ahead of the former Chelsea man.

Sevilla

As for Sevilla, they’ve been the team most frequently close to the top three in Spanish football for a long time. The Champions League has never been their cup of tea perhaps, but they won the Europa League four times since it’s been rebranded, and counted together with the two UEFA Cups they had taken previously, they are the record-holders in UEFA’s second-tier club competition. An admirable achievement, though they will be painfully aware that they face the Champions League/European Cup record holders in this match.

The evening should be an interesting one for head coach Julen Lopetegui. He was in charge of the Spain national team which qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, only to get the sack ahead of the tournament itself after Real Madrid announced he would be appointed there upon its completion. Obviously, the Spanish FA chose to act immediately.

Lopetegui went on to take the Real job, but less than four months in, he was sacked there as well. It could therefore be said that Real delivered two big blows to his coaching career in a very short time span, and there’s very little doubt that that particular piece of his past presents an additional motive on Sunday.

Sevilla are currently third in the La Liga table with 28 points, two less than Real at the top, one less than Sociedad in second, and two more than Atletico Madrid in fourth.

In the Champions League, they sit third in Group G with six points from five matches, two less than Lille at the top and one less than RB Salzburg in second place. It is therefore imperative for them to beat Salzburg in Austria on December 8th, or they’ll miss out on the knockout stages. They could even finish last and end their European adventure altogether in that case, providing Wolfsburg, currently fourth with five points, can pull off a surprise against Lille on the same evening.

Sevilla’s last-six record starts with a 1-1 draw away against Mallorca. Then they beat Osasuna 2-0 at home, lost 1-2 at home to Lille, won the Seville Derby 0-2 away to Real Betis, drew 2-2 at home against Alaves, and beat Wolfsburg 2-0 at home earlier this week.

Team News

Lopetegui has a few attacking absences to gloss over on Sunday. Striker Youssef En-Nesyri and winger Jesus Navas have been ruled out. Attacking midfielders Erik Lamela and Suso are both doubts through injury, though Lamela is believed to be closer to being ready than the former AC Milan man.

Be that as it may, Lucas Ocampos and Rafa Mir are likely to start in the attacking third.

Defender Diego Carlos will probably be ready to play, even though he was replaced due to a knock late against Wolfsburg in midweek.

Conclusion

Real are obviously the favourites to win this match. Their star-studded team is simply bursting with quality, especially upfront where Benzema has been scoring for fun and Vinicius Junior finally looks the player his talent was announcing for a long time. Not that Sevilla don’t stand a chance, however. As has been said, the visitors will be motivated to deliver, and it’s not like they don’t have quality of their own to show, even without En-Nesyri and Navas.

It should be an open contest, with plenty of goals.

Verdict: Home win

Best odds: 8/13

Bookmaker: Betfair