FOOTBALL RETURNS WITH A HUGE MATCH

The biggest match of this La Liga matchday will take place this Sunday night in Nervión. The current La Liga league leaders visit the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán not quite as clear in the title race as they would have hoped a couple of months ago, but they still depend on themselves to come away with the league title. Sevilla FC will be looking to stop them in their tracks and increase their cushion in the Champions League spots 15 days after their last match and Bono's epic goal against Real Valladolid.

There are ten matches left and the gap to fifth place was ten points at the start of the weekend. There are three teams looking to oust Julen Lopetegui's team from fourth spot, but the Nervionenses, much like Atlético, have the advantage of it being in their hands. The team will have to be at their best to come away with the three points as Lopetegui pointed out last night in the pre-match press conference. While Sevilla have suffered a number of disappointments in the last month, notably the Cup and Champions League elimination, at their best they can compete against any team.

Carrasco is definitely out for the visitors, while Escudero misses out for Sevilla FC

Julen Lopetegui, as usual, refused to give any hints as to who would be available for the game in a week in which some players only participated partially in training. It remains to be seen how Fernando and Aleix Vidal are after their injuries in the last match against Valladolid. The only definite player out is Sergio Escudero who tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday. Atlético have their own doubts, with the suspended Carrasco definitely out. With Giménez back, the two injury doubts for Atleti are their two strikers: Dembelé and João Felix.

Jesús Gil Manzano will referee the match. He has presided over two Sevilla draws this season, away to FC Barcelona and at home against Real Valladolid. He will be aided by César Soto Grado on VAR duties.