Sevilla and Athletic Club desperate for points in crucial Nervión clash
Both sides enter the match at Sánchez-Pizjuán having lost three of their last four league games, with Athletic hoping to build on Champions League momentum.
Two teams in desperate need of a result face off as Sevilla welcome Athletic Club to the Sánchez-Pizjuán, with both sides looking to halt their worrying league form.
Form Guide Nightmares
It’s been a proper mare for both outfits in recent weeks. Sevilla and Athletic have each lost three of their last four league matches, leaving them gasping for points like a fish out of water.
The hosts managed to stop the rot somewhat by scraping a point at Martínez Valero thanks to a brace from Akor Adams, who came off the bench to rescue Almeyda’s men. Athletic, meanwhile, haven’t tasted victory in domestic competition since December, with three defeats and a draw in their last four La Liga outings.
Team News
Sevilla face some significant hurdles:
- Batista Mendy is suspended - a massive blow as he’s been the anchor in midfield
- Almeyda may need to rejig his tactical approach without Mendy
- Fede Gattoni returns to the squad after being registered with La Liga yesterday - his first appearance since December 2023
- The return of Akor Adams and Ejuke from AFCON provides a welcome boost
For Athletic:
- Valverde receives positive news with Nico, Berenguer and Yuri all recovering from knocks
- All three could feature in the starting XI
- The visitors will look to build on their impressive second-half performance against Atalanta in the Champions League
Historical Context
Athletic will fancy their chances having won on their last two visits to Nervión. They also edged a five-goal thriller in the reverse fixture earlier this season, winning 3-2.
Key Battle
Agoumé vs Robert Navarro could be where this game is won and lost. Agoumé made an error leading to Elche’s goal in Sevilla’s last match but helped drive the team forward thereafter. Without Mendy alongside him, his performance will be crucial.
Navarro arrives in top form after a stellar showing against Atalanta, where he notched a goal and two assists to earn MVP honours. The boy’s absolutely cooking right now.
What to Expect
Both teams have struggled to find the onion bag this season, so don’t expect a goal-fest. However, with Athletic’s recent Champions League boost and Sevilla’s returning AFCON stars, we might see more attacking intent than their recent form suggests.
Kick-off at the Sánchez-Pizjuán is set for 18:30 local time in what could be a proper six-pointer in terms of momentum for the remainder of the campaign.