Sevilla vs Valencia Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 Spanish Primera
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THE FACTS
When is Sevilla vs Valencia on and what time does it start? Sevilla vs Valencia will take place on Friday 11th August, 2023 – 20:30 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Sevilla vs Valencia? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What TV channel is Sevilla vs Valencia on in the UK? Sevilla vs Valencia will be televised live on LaLigaTV, but La Liga matches are also televised occasionally on Viaplay Sports and ITV
Where can I stream Sevilla vs Valencia in the UK? Sevilla vs Valencia can be streamed live on Viaplay, while ITV matches can be streamed live on ITVX
THE LOWDOWN
SEVILLA
Last season was, frankly, bizarre for Sevilla. The Andalusian giants began the campaign in dreadful form under the management of Julen Lopetegui and eventually, in October, the now Wolverhampton Wanderers boss was replaced by the returning former Argentina and Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli. Sampaoli, as is common with the combustible Argentine, fell out with a few players and his extreme, complex tactical instructions and plans failed to get-much needed results as Sevilla went into the March international break sitting in the bottom three and the relegation places.
Over the course of that break, though, the club decided to appoint Jose Luis Mendilibar and the former Eibar manager led Sevilla into mid-table, just a few points off a top seven finish but the crowning glory of this remarkable turnaround was defeating Manchester United, Juventus and Roma en route to winning yet another UEFA Europa League and, as a consequence, qualifying for the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League. There is no Monchi after his summer departure to Aston Villa and Mendilibar, with an agricultural style of football, remains in charge so it is still uncertain as to how Sevilla will improve this season.
VALENCIA
Much like Sevilla, Valencia were and are a fallen giant of Spanish football last season but Valencia’s plight has gone on a lot longer and their future appears a lot more bleak. With off-field protests against owner Peter Lim continuing, the visitors begin this opening day believing that another narrow escape from relegation is the only way to achieve realistic success this season. Last year, under Ruben Baraja, they required a desperate but impressive and much-needed push late on to avoid the drop by just a point.
This season, the club have lost managed to add just two players; Cenk Ozkacar and Pepelu. Pepelu joining from Valencia’s city rivals, Levante, and a man that has only departed his boyhood club due to financial mayhem with the club – out of the frying pan and into the fire one might suggest. Baraja remains in charge but in terms of player outgoings, the club have lost key loanees Justin Kluivert and Samuel Lino, as well as Nico Gonzalez and Ilaix Moriba. They have also seen Toni Lato depart to Real Mallorca and Edinson Cavani to Boca Juniors. The key departure, though, is Yunus Musah to AC Milan and also rumours persist that goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili could well depart.
THE TEAM NEWS
SEVILLA
Jose Luis Mendilibar can kindly be described as ‘old school’ in his way of thinking about football with an intentional lack of any tactical sophistication something he adopts. The hosts finished the 2022/23 campaign playing a 4-2-3-1 system and that is expected to continue.
The key concern in terms of personnel for Sevilla would be the availability of goalkeeper, Bono – and not because of an injury or suspension. Morocco’s number one is a rumoured target of Bayern Munich and it could be that he sits out of this opening game in order to protect a move to Bavaria but that is, so far, not necessarily the case.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Bono; Navas, Bade, Gudelj, Pedrosa; Sow, Rakitic; Ocampos, Torres, Lamela; En-Nesyri
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
VALENCIA
Ruben Baraja pulled off the end of season Valencia miracle playing a relatively front foot style of football that was played in a 4-2-3-1 shape, as appears to be his overarching preference.
Other than the aforementioned departures, most importantly Yunus Musah in midfield, there aren’[t many selection dilemmas for Baraja with the only injury concern being the peripheral attacking figure of Marcos Andre who is expected to be out until the end of August.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili; Gabriel, Ozkacar, Diakhaby, Gaya; Pepelu, Guillamon; Castillejo, Almeida, Lopez; Duro
UNAVAILABLE: Marcos Andre (Injury)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
These two sides shared similarities last season as they both underwhelmed for much of the campaign but managed to pull off real surprise finishes to the season – to very different extents. Sevilla managed to move into mid-table and, as mentioned, somehow qualify for the UEFA Champions League, whilst Valencia are now appearing to be perennial strugglers and only just managed to survive. They should have very different seasons and Sevilla, with home advantage, are firm favourites for this opening day clash.
TIP: SEVILLA TO WIN
