Struggling Sevilla take on Elche in a La Liga six-point relegation battle on Saturday at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium in Seville.
Sevilla are 15th in the standings and are just one point above the relegation zone ahead of matchday No 19. Elche are bottom of the La Liga table after 18 fixtures. The Green Striped Ones are the only La Liga team not to win a fixture this season. Eleven points separate Elche from relegation safety.
🎯 ➡️ #SevillaFCElche pic.twitter.com/G6iCdczIpy— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) January 26, 2023
🎯 ➡️ #SevillaFCElche pic.twitter.com/G6iCdczIpy
Los Rojiblancos are unbeaten in three straight games against Elche in all competitions. Sevilla won each of their last four games at home against Elche in all matches, which bodes well for manager Jorge Sampaoli this weekend.
Sevilla’s form has improved in recent weeks. Los Rojiblancos picked up back-to-back draws in the division. They took eight points from the last six games in the league and scored seven goals while conceding seven times.
Goalscoring has long been a problem for Sevilla even before Sampaoli took over for Julen Lopetegui earlier this season.
Two points were picked up by Elche in their last six games in the league. Elche also struggled to score in their last six games, tallying a mere four goals and conceding nine times.
Sevilla have not played well at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan this season. However, Los Rojiblancos picked up back-to-back wins at home in their last two games at the stadium. The wins were Sevilla’s first two victories at home in La Liga this term.
Elche are La Liga’s worst away team with three points from nine matches. They are one of two La Liga teams not to win on the road this term.
No team in La Liga has allowed more goals than Elche with 36. Elche have also scored the fewest number of goals with 12. Sevilla haven’t done much better in the final third with just 18 goals scored.
Elche hired manager Pablo Machin in November 2022. Since taking the reins, Machin hasn’t been able to turn around the results. Defender Jose Angel Carmona will miss the game due to a suspension.
Midfielders Domingos Quina, Alex Collado, and John Donald Chetauya are all three likely to miss the match due to injury. Meanwhile, forward Jony Alamo is set to miss the game with a meniscus injury.
Sampaoli will be without Erik Lamela due to a suspension. Alejandro Gomez has a sprained ankle and is a doubt to make the side. Meanwhile, Alex Telles and Thomas Delaney are both unlikely to make the squad. Jesus Manuel Corona and Teixeira Marcao are both ruled out until February.
Sevilla are improving and benefitted from the FIFA World Cup break. Los Rojiblancos should post a second straight La Liga win and pick up three more vital points in the battle against relegation. Sevilla should win 2-0.