A TRIP TO GRANADA FOR THE SECOND ALL-ANDALUSIAN CLASH OF THE SEASON

16/10/2020

Both Sevilla and Granada are looking to continue their good starts to the LaLiga season before difficult European midweek trips to London and Eindhoven respectively

With the first international break of the season complete, Sevilla FC are preparing for a very demanding month which will really kick off the season. The Nervionenses already have seven points under their belt from their first three games, as well as the experience of the UEFA Super Cup, where Bayern were pushed until the very end. However, it's now time to visit a team who are in Europe this season for the very first time, before, barely three days later, travelling to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League.

Sevilla FC travel to Granada with many of their international players arriving just days ago, so there has been less preparation for the match against Granada CF. The reduced preparation has been compounded by the fact that, after the short spell following the international matches, Julen Lopetegui's side will play in the first LaLiga match of the weekend, Matchday 6. Of course, Jules Koundé is unavailable after testing positive for Covid-19, a huge blow for the side. With the side facing a tough trip to London on Tuesday, changes from the side that faced Barcelona two weeks ago are expected.

Koundé's absence due to Covid-19 is a major setback

Saturday's match means that Carlos Fernández will be back at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes, after a successful loan spell there last season. The striker from Castilleja de Guzmán is back in Nervión and will be part of the first team this season, making an appearance at Camp Nou in Matchday 5. Of course, this will be a special match for many Granadinistas who have a history in Nervión, such as their manager Diego Martínez, their captain Víctor Díaz, and Carlos Neva, Yan Eteki and Gonalons. Quini, Ramón Azeez and Neyder Lozano will miss out through injury.

Granada, after they secured qualification for the UEFA Europa League Group Stage, in which they will make their debut on Thursday against PSV in Eindhoven, have won both their LaLiga home matches so far this season, against Athletic Club and Alavés. Away from home, they suffered a heavy defeat at the Wanda and picked up a point in another all-Andalusian clash at the Ramón de Carranza. They have played one less match than most teams, but have played one more than Sevilla, as their LaLiga fixture in Matchday 4 was postponed due to their European qualifier against Malmo in Sweden.

The Asturian referee Pablo González Fuertes, in his fourth LaLiga season, will officiate the match. Last season, he refereed Sevilla's cup win at Riazor against Bergantiños and the first league defeat of the Lopetegui era, at Ipurúa. His only Granada match last season was also at Ipurúa, where they were beaten 3-0.