MADRID, 5 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Seville derby faces this Sunday at the Benito Villamarín (9:00 p.m.) two teams with opposite states of mind, with a euphoric Real Betis and in ‘Champions’ positions and a depressed Sevilla FC after falling to the relegation zone, in a day in in which Real Sociedad aspires to defend its fifth place against Valencia (4:15 p.m.) and in which Villarreal hopes to get closer to continental positions when RCD Mallorca visits (6:30 p.m.).
Manuel Pellegrini’s men, fourth with the same points as Atlético de Madrid (23), the last team that made them give in, interrupted a streak of two league days without winning by beating Real Sociedad in Anoeta (0-2), a victory framed between two other Europeans, the last of them this Thursday against the Finnish HJK (3-0).
After finishing Group C of the Europa League without knowing defeat, the Verdiblanco team returns to domestic competition ready to secure their place in the ‘Champions’ in a match in which they will not have the injured Juanmi, Joaquín, Luiz Felipe and Víctor Camarasa , but for the one who recovers Guido Rodríguez.
Opposite, Sevilla, touched after a new defeat against City (3-1), attends the demanding appointment in full depression despite the arrival of Jorge Sampaoli; they have only got one point from the last nine at stake after drawing against Valencia (1-1) and losing to Real Madrid (3-1) and Rayo Vallecano (0-1), and only Elche, Cádiz and Mallorca they have fewer goals in favor than him (11).
As a result, he has fallen to the relegation zone, albeit with the same units marking the save (10). A victory at home for the eternal rival could boost the morale of the people from Nerviona, who will add to the casualties of ‘Tecatito’ Corona, Nianzou and Fernando that of Isco, who must complete the yellow card cycle, and of Marcao, with a fibrillar rupture.
At the Reale Arena, Real Sociedad (22), fifth, one point behind the Betis, who precisely beat them last weekend, are looking to leave behind a series of two straight defeats in LaLiga, where they failed to see the door.
The Donostiarras did not beat Manchester United on Thursday (0-1) either, although that did not prevent them from securing first place in Group E of the Europa League, an emotional rush to which they cling to try to beat Valencia (15).
Gennaro Gattuso’s team occupies the tenth position, six points behind the continental zone and with five points ahead of the dangerous positions, and has already gone four days without winning, the last two falling to Mallorca (1-2) and FC Barcelona (0-1).
Those of Imanol Alguacil have a full infirmary due to the injuries of Merquelanz, Mikel Oyarzabal, Umar Sadiq, Barrenetxea, Mohamed-Ali Cho, Aihen Muñoz and Ander Martín, while the ‘che’ team will face the absences of Ilaix Moriba, Jaume Doménech, Diakhaby and Edinson Cavani, who has relapsed from his discomfort.
Finally, Quique Setién will continue looking for his first victory with Villarreal against RCD Mallorca after a draw and two defeats since he took command of the team after the surprising departure of Unai Emery.
Since the Basque coach left the team after the victory against Almería (2-1), the ‘Yellow Submarine’ has not won again. In LaLiga, where they are eighth (18) three units behind sixth place, they succumbed to Athletic Club (1-0), and this same week they fell thrashed against Polish Lech Poznan (3-0) in the Conference League, a result which however did not prevent him from finishing first in the group.
The vermilion box (13), meanwhile, manages three points ahead of the burning zone, all despite the fact that it has added five units of the last 18 that have been put into play.
With the recovery of Capoue and Juan Foyth, the people from Castellón will only have the absences of Gerard Moreno -in the final stretch of his recovery-, Raúl Albiol, Giovani Lo Celso and Alfonso Pedraza. Javier Aguirre’s team will not have the suspended Pablo Maffeo and Antonio Raíllo but they will recover Dominik Greif and Tino Kadewere.
Atletico Madrid – Espanyol. Pulido Santana (C. Las Palmas) 14.00.
Royal Society – Valencia. Munuera Montero (C.Andaluz) 16.15.
Villarreal – RCD Mallorca. Muñiz Ruiz (C. Galicia) 18.30.
Real Betis – Sevilla FC. Sánchez Martínez (C.Murciano) 21.00.
