SEVILLA FC AND FC BARCELONA OUT TO DEFEND THIRD PLACE AND TOP SPOT RESPECTIVELY IN MATCHDAY 30

Just eight days after the return of LaLiga, where Sevilla FC featured in the opening match and picked up a 2-0 win in the derby, the 30th match of the season is already here. After a painful draw against Levante in La Nucía, it's FC Barcelona who are coming to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán as they try to maintain their grip on top spot. They are up against a Sevilla side who are looking to stay in third place and take another step towards Champions League qualification, with just nine matches remaining.

With 51 points, the Blanquirrojos, despite the draw in Alicante, have seen just one team make ground on them - Atlético de Madrid, who won comfortably in Pamplona. The rest of the chasing pack; Getafe, Real Sociedad and Valencia, were again unable to pick up all three points, which means Sevilla FC remain four points clear of fifth place. For their part, the Catalans come to Andalusia on the back of two wins since the league restart, and remain two points clear of Real Madrid in the title race. They have little room for error, as Real Madrid have a better head-to-head record.

Sevilla FC have picked up 4 points in their 2 games since the restart, as opposed to Barcelona's 6 points

Julen Lopetegui has no selection worries for tonight's game apart from Nolito, who completed his move back to Celta Vigo yesterday, while Quique Setién is unable to rely on Frenkie De Jong or Sergi Roberto due to injury, and Umtiti is suspended for tonight's match. Lopetegui commented in his pre-match press conference that "We will try to be a recognisable side and we have to go to the limit to stop a side who have returned strongly". 

Tonight's match will kick off at 22:00 CET at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, and will be refereed by González González from Castile and León. De Burgos Bengoetxea will be in the VAR room.