The 2018/19 Spanish La Liga starts this weekend and games are spread between Friday and Monday. On Sunday evening we have what has the makings of a great match to kick-start the season between Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla.
Rayo Vallecano were playing in the Segunda Division last season having been relegated from the top-flight in 2015/16. They finished top of the table and secured their place in La Liga with 76 points from 42 games. Their target will be to avoid the drop this season.
Sevilla will be hoping to improve on their performance last season when they finished seventh in La Liga. This was their joint lowest finish in the past five seasons and they ended up below city rivals Real Betis, which rubbed salt into the wounds.
Rayo Vallecano have endured a tough end to their preseason as they lost their final three matches. They lost in a penalty shootout to Belenenses before recording 2-0 defeats against Real Valladolid and Leganes.
Michel will be hoping his team can carry over their home form from last season. Rayo Vallecano have lost only two of their last nineteen home competitive games. During that run of matches they have won thirteen times and scored 2 or more goals in nine of their last twelve matches on home soil.
However, defensively Ray Vallecano have struggled at times and they kept just one clean sheet in their final six home league games.
Sevilla have been involved in the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds this season. They entered the competition at the second qualifying stage and eliminated Ujpest 7-1 on aggregate before meeting Zalgaris. Having won the home leg narrowly 1-0, Sevilla went on to win the away leg comfortably 5-0.
Trends show Sevilla have won three of their last four in La Liga and lost one of their final seven league games last season. However, away form was not good and Sevilla failed to win any of their final five away La Liga games last season.
Sevilla kept just one clean sheet in those five games but have a good record against Rayo Vallecano, remaining undefeated in their last nine meetings. Sevilla have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven away games against Rayo Vallecano and keeping another in this match would surely see them take maximum points.
Looking ahead to the team news and Rayo Vallecano have no injury or suspension concerns ahead of this match. New signings Gael Kakuta, Jose Pozo, Emiliano Velazquez and Jordi Amat are all in line to make their competitive debuts.
Pablo Machin will assess the Sevilla squad following their game in mid-week. Carlos Luna is expected to miss the game with a muscle injury and Steven Nzonzi has been sold to Roma. Andre Silva and Ibrahim Amadou are among those hoping to make their La Liga debuts for the club.
If Sevilla have any hopes of returning to the Champions League qualifying positions this season, they must win this game. It will not be easy coming on the back of the Europa League on Thursday but they should come away with all 3 points and could keep a clean sheet.