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A MUST-WIN CLASH TO FIND A THIRD LA LIGA WIN ON THE TROT

10/03/2018
Sevilla FC face Valencia CF in what could prove to be a true Champions League six-pointer come the end of the season. With Valencia coming into the game with a poor record in the Sánchez-Pizjuán, Sevilla will be looking to make amends for a 4-0 drudging in Mestalla. The Nervioneneses have improved signifcantly under Montella since then and will now be searching for a third consecutive La Liga win to put those memories to bed

If there was ever a day to take revenge it's today. Another historic clash between two sides with similar ambitions in world football and two sides who are fighting for the very same goal in La Liga: qualification for the Champions League. If Tuesday's fixture with Manchester United will draw the attention of every football fan around the world, today's battle with Valencia CF - in its own right - will be one of the most important games of Sevilla's season when determining just how successful the side can claim to have been in league competition. Marcelino's side come into the game having lost some of the momentum they started their campaign with, while Sevilla come in having improved dramatically since the arrival of Vincenzo Montella. Today, both teams will throw all caution to the wind to gain ground in a 4th place six-pointer and Sevilla will do everything they can to leave unhappy memories of a drudging in the Mestalla firmly in the past.

A much improved Sevilla will be looking to attack a dangerous opponent with a poor record in the Sánchez-Pizjuán

On paper it has all the makings of an instant classic. Valencia's revival under Marcelino has been one of the revelations of Spanish football this year, where Montella's frantic start as Sevilla boss has been a headline-stealer from the get-go. Marcelino has managed to build a compact, fit and lethal counter-attacking side spearheaded by a clinical group of attackers. 46 of 52 league goals (more than 88%) have been scored by the six attacking players that lead Valencia's line. Santi Mina (11), Simone Zaza (11) and Rodrigo (10) have the best scoring records but are closely followed by Parejo (6), Kondogbia (4) and Guedes (4) who have proven themselves just as much of a force to be reckoned with. Santi Mina misses out on the clash due to injury and ex-Sevillista Kondogbia returns to his former home. All in all, Valencia boast a goal difference of +22 (52-30), while Sevilla lament a negative -4 (36-40). Los Levantinos have scored in 23 of their 27 league matches, only failing to find the net against Atlético, Getafe and Villarreal.

But for all of their danger Valencia will be up against a poor record in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The side have not won in Nervión since 2004, when they captured the league title. Struggling since then in the league, they have a record of nine losses and four draws on Sevilla soil. The last defeat, a 2-1 loss in November 2016 saw an own goal from Garay, an equaliser from Munir but a dramatic late winner from Nico Pareja. Coach Marcelino doesn't boast a much better record. The manager has never won at the Sánchez-Pizjuán and has picked up six losses when visiting. With both sides having picked up four league wins in their last five, something will have to give. 

Not thinking about Tuesday's Champions League fixture, Sevilla will be aiming to pick up a third consecutive La Liga win

If Sevilla are the ones who add to that impressive run of form, Montella - for the first time - will be able to boast three successive La Liga wins. Should the Nervionenses keep a clean sheet, all three will have been achieved without conceding a goal. It's an achievement that would come at no better time, as the team look to build as much momentum as possible before facing Manchester United in the second-leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Tuesday. 

But La Liga demands for neither side to look any further than today's 16:15 kick-off and should Sevilla have any hope of achieving what they set out to at the beginning of the season, there can be no distraction from one of the most important 90 minutes of football the Sánchez-Pizjuán will witness this year. The time has come for Sevilla Football Club to show what it's made of. A crucial day in Nervión.