THE MENDIZORROZA WILL ONCE AGAIN REQUIRE A TOP PERFORMANCE

After the boost that a derby win always brings Sevilla FC will return to the ever difficult fortress in the league that is Mendizorroza, a stadium in which historically they haven't got much but where they have got six points in their last two visits. Seeking to repeat this feat tonight, Julen Lopetegui's squad are looking to return to winning ways as the away side, something that they have not managed since the first game of 2022 in Cádiz. Getting the three points would be very interesting, not only to keep pressure on the leader but also to put distance between their chasers, with Barcelona and Atlético ever closer to what was initially expected of them. 

Once more a summary of the absentees for the Sevilla squad. Lopetegui loses as expected Papu Gómez, injured in the derby, but he is also unable to call upon Montiel, Diego Carlos or Fernando. From a positive viewpoint, after missing the derby against Betis, both Koundé and Ocampos return from suspension. In any case, only 16 first team players have been able to travel, with the Basque having had to complete the travelling group with six youth team players, in addition to a third goalkeeper Javi Díaz. It is worth noting that Sevilla have won twice in their last two visits to Mendizorroza with Lopetegui in the dugout. In 2019/20 they did it 1-0 with a great direct free kick from Joan Jordán and last season without fans, 2-1 with goals from En-Nesyri and Suso. 

A 2-1 win last season with goals from En-Nesyri and Suso 

Deportivo Alavés come into the game in the middle of the relegation zone and four points from safety after the hard fought draw last matchday against Getafe. Mendilibar loses in the middle of the pitch the suspended Loum and he is also without Tomás Pina and Martín Aguirregabiria through injury. Pere Pons and Toni Maya aim to play in the middle of the area for the white and blues, although Mendilibar himself spoke about the possibility of playing with two attacker instead of using just Joselu as the lone forward. The side from Vitoria have only won once in 13 league games since their draw in Nervión on November 2nd, a very strange game in which Rakitic rescued a point at the end. Since then they have got four draws and eight defeats, with the win in Mendizorroza against Valencia three games ago. 

On the whistle tonight will be the referee from Castille La Mancha, Javier Alberola Rojas, who will oversee his twelfth official game refereeing Sevilla. So far, his record is eight wins, a draw and two defeats. This season, he refereed the first of the two league defeats so far, in Granada and then also the last win away from home in the league in Cádiz. For Alavés he has refereed a total of 14 games, which have led to four wins three draws and six defeats. Interestingly he also refereed them this season in Nuevo Mirandilla - in a 2-0 win - and in Nuevo Los Cármenes - with a 2-1 defeat. The VAR will be overseen by the Catalan Xavier Estrada Fernández.