Sevilla vs Elche

Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán forms the backdrop for a bottom-half La Liga showdown between Sevilla and Elche.

Ivan Rakitic’s late penalty handed relegation-threatened Sevilla a potentially crucial 1-0 home win over fellow relegation rivals Cadiz last weekend, steering them one point off the drop zone. But a 2-1 extra-time defeat at Osasuna in midweek Copa del Rey action inflicted damage on the hosts’ confidence ahead of another ‘relegation six-pointer.’ On a more positive note, Jorge Sampaoli’s men have won both home league matches after the mid-season break via a single-goal margin, as many victories as they have in their remaining 16 top-flight outings in 2022/23, home and away (W2, D6, L8). Keen to pick up a head of steam amid a thoroughly disappointing domestic campaign, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ can draw inspiration from a formidable 14-match La Liga run against Elche (W8, D5, L1).

Meanwhile, the situation is no joke for rock-bottom Elche, who, despite drawing 1-1 against Osasuna and Cadiz in the last two La Liga matchdays, head into this round as the only side yet to win a top-flight fixture this season (D6, L12). Time is ticking for the visitors, as they have to deal with a staggering 11-point deficit on safety if they’re to maintain their faint hopes of avoiding relegation. Only two sides had a longer wait for their first win in a single La Liga campaign than Elche (18), with both eventually suffering the drop. But there’s still a glimmer of hope that they can turn their fortunes around starting this weekend after picking up points in three of their last five visits to Andalusian teams in La Liga (W2, D1, L2).