Sevilla vs Valencia

Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan forms the backdrop for a tasty-looking 2023/24 La Liga curtain-raising clash between Sevilla and Valencia.

Despite spending most of the 2022/23 season in the La Liga lower reaches, Sevilla salvaged a disastrous domestic campaign with a record-extending seventh Europa League triumph. Inspired by new boss Jose Luis Mendilibar, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ toppled Roma in the grand final to help their fans get over a disappointing 12th-place La Liga finish. Sevilla will hope for a more promising start this year. And after going unbeaten in their last nine encounters against Valencia (W6, D3), this curtain-raising fixture could be just what the doctor ordered. However, the Andalusian heavyweights come into the 2023/24 proceedings having gone winless in four of their last five pre-season friendlies (W1, D2, L2 – 90mins only). Moreover, they netted precisely once in all those five games, casting further doubt on their hopes of a flying start.

In the meantime, visiting Valencia saved their top-flight status by the skin of their teeth last term, finishing only two points clear of 18th-placed Valladolid in the club’s worst La Liga season since a fateful 1985/86 relegation campaign. After helping ‘Los Che’ stay afloat, caretaker boss Ruben Baraja has earned a permanent deal at Mestalla, a trust he justified with four wins in five pre-season fixtures (L1). But Valencia’s travel sickness remains a glaring issue, with the visitors suffering as many as ten defeats in their first 14 away games of last La Liga season (W1, D3). Away goals were at a premium for Valencia in 2022/23, as they netted a meager average of 0.78 goals per league travel!