Pre-match reports

RACE FOR THIRD INTENSIFIES AS SEVILLA FACE CELTA

27/04/2017

Jorge Sampaoli's side will look top capitalise on Atlético's midweek defeat in the hunt for third place in LaLiga

Sevilla welcome Celta Vigo to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán on Thursday night as the race for third place in LaLiga hots up.

Atlético Madrid’s midweek home defeat against fifth-placed Villarreal gives Jorge Sampaoli’s side the impetus to pile pressure on the Vicente Calderón outfit, but a stern test is in store from a Celta side with one eye on their Europa League semi-final against Manchester United.

Celta travel from Balaídos on the back of a 1-0 home defeat against Real Betis last Sunday, but will be buoyed after a 4-3 aggregate win over Belgian side Genk saw them secure a spot in the last four of a European competition for the first time in their history.

Sevilla have plenty to play for themselves, however, and will be looking to record a third win in four games, as Samir Nasri and Adil Rami return to the squad after extended periods out with their respective hamstring and calf injuries.

Paulo Ganso was in red hot form last time out for Los Nervionenses, with goals either side of half time – in his first appearance since January – condemning Granada to a 2-0 defeat in Seville. The win was Sevilla’s 19^th in the league this season, and extends their record to 30 matchdays in the top four this season, 17 of which in third place.

Celta’s danger man comes in the form of ex-Sevilla foward Iago Aspas, whose 16 league goals this season place him fourth in LaLiga’s scoring charts – level with Atlético’s Antoine Griezmann. The 29-year-old has found the back of the net 24 times in 45 games in all competitions in the current campaign.

Eduardo Berizzo’s Celta have won on six of their last ten outings to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, and the recent record between the two clubs stands at three Sevilla wins, four Celta wins and two draws since the Galician side restored their first division in 2012 status after a five year exodus.

The last of those encounters came in December when Vicente Iborra stole the show with a 29-minute hat trick after coming off the bench at half time in Sevilla’s 3-0 win, which propelled the side to a five-game winning streak in the league.