LOOKING TO PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF AGAINST AN UNPREDICTABLE CELTA

A large part of the squad have not even had time to take a break. Even during the break, some were still subjected to the same rhythm of playing Wednesday, Sunday, Wednesday with their respective national teams. With no time to put their feet up, club football is back, as teams face a demanding six weeks ahead in the build-up to Christmas. The only break will come on Boxing Day weekend, but even then there will only be seven days between matches. So, it's time for the final sprint of 2020, the end of an intense year since everything changed back in March. 

In terms of football, exactly two weeks have passed since the last match, a 1-0 win at home to Osasuna, and Sevilla FC are looking to pick up where they left off as they look to start this demanding spell with three points. Of course, that win against Osasuna came on the back of an unbelievable Champions League comeback at home to Krasnodar, so the team are looking for a fourth consecutive home win in all competitions. This time round, it is Sevilla who face that long journey between Andalusia and Russia. Celta visit Nervión today, before the Nervionenses travel to Russia tomorrow as they try to secure progression to the last 16 on Tuesday, with two games to spare.

After the last two wins, the international break makes way for a crucial week

Beyond any unknown fitness issues that the international players might have picked up over the last two weeks, Lopetegui does have two players who will miss out today, Carlos Fernández and Suso. Jesús Navas and Acuña might well be in the squad, and some international players may well need rest due to fixture congestion. Regarding RC Celta, there is less certainty, as manager Eduardo Coudet takes charge of his first match. Goalkeeper Sergio Álvarez, as well as Kevin Vázquez and Emre Mor, are unavailable for the Galicians. 

Today's referee is César Soto Grado, from La Rioja, who is in his second season as a top-flight official. If he books Fernando Reges today, he will be the first Sevillista to pick up five yellow cards this season, and will miss a match. Soto Grado is refereeing for the first time at the Sánchez-Pizjuán, but he did referee two away matches last season, a 3-0 win at Leganés in the league and a 5-0 win at Escobedo in the second round of the cup. The only occasion he has refereed a Celta match also came in the cup last season, as they knocked out Peña Azagresa in the first round.