Rayo Vallecano will be bidding to continue their surprise top-four challenge in La Liga when they welcome Sevilla to Estadio de Vallecas on Sunday afternoon.
The home team are currently sixth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, while Sevilla occupy 12th position, some 14 points off the Champions League positions.
Match preview
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Rayo's form has been one of the stories of the season in La Liga thus far, with the capital outfit picking up 33 points from 21 matches to occupy sixth position heading into the next set of fixtures.
Andoni Iraola's side are just one point behind fifth-placed Real Betis and five from Atletico in fourth, and it would be some achievement for the club to claim a European spot in Spain's top flight.
Rayo were 12th in La Liga last season and have never finished higher than eighth, but their recent form has left their supporters dreaming of possible European football for the 2023-24 campaign.
Los Franjirrojos have only lost one of their last five in the league, recording three wins in the process, including two of their last three against Villarreal and Almeria.
Iraola's side were held to a 1-1 draw by Getafe last weekend, though, with Enes Unal levelling for the home side in the 77th minute after Mauro Arambarri had turned into the back of his own net.
Rayo's home form this season has been mixed, but they have picked up 17 points in front of their own supporters and will be determined to return to winning ways this weekend.
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Sevilla have finished fourth in each of their last three La Liga campaigns, while they have not been lower than seventh for 10 years, so it is a surprise to see them currently in the bottom half of the division.
Los Nervionenses have spent time in the relegation zone this season, but they do appear to have turned a corner in recent weeks, winning three of their last four in Spain's top flight, which has allowed them to move into 12th position in the table, level on points with 11th-placed Girona.
Sevilla are 14 points off the top four, though, so it is very difficult to imagine them challenging for a Champions League spot, while they are also nine points off the top six.
Jorge Sampaoli's side have had a positive week, recording a 2-0 win over Mallorca in La Liga last weekend before beating PSV Eindhoven 3-0 in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff on Thursday night.
Sevilla are now in a commanding position to reach the knockout round of the competition, and they will be bidding to make it three wins in a row in all competitions on Sunday afternoon.
Team News
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Rayo currently have no first-team injuries or suspensions, so Iraola, barring any late setbacks, is expected to have a full squad available for this weekend's contest.
It would not be a shock to see the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Getafe last time out, with Sergio Camello again expected to lead the line.
However, there could be a change on the left of the attack, with Andres Martin potentially coming in for Alvaro Garcia, while Raul de Tomas is also pushing to be involved in the starting side.
As for Sevilla, Nemanja Gudelj and Joan Jordan are both suspended due to the yellow cards that they picked up in the victory over Mallorca last weekend.
Meanwhile, Karim Rekik, Marcao, Papu Gomez and Jesus Manuel Corona remain unavailable for selection due to injury problems.
Head coach Sampaoli is expected to freshen his side following the European clash against PSV, with Gonzalo Montiel, Fernando and Erik Lamela coming into the side, but Bryan Gil and Youssef En-Nesyri are set to retain their spots in the final third of the field.
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, F Garcia; Comesana, Valentin; Palazon, Trejo, Martin; Camello
Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Montiel, Fernando, Nianzou, Acuna; Gueye, Rakitic; Gil, Torres, Lamela; En-Nesyri
We say: Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Sevilla
Rayo will certainly be the fresher of the two teams heading into this match, and they will fancy their chances of putting another win on the board here. Sevilla will enter the contest off the back of two strong results, though, and we are expecting the points to be shared on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
