HUESCA TAKES CENTRE STAGE BETWEEN THE CUP AND THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The squad need no warning. The manager, even less so. After the final whistle on Wednesday against Barcelona, all efforts are solely focused on the next game, not on any other upcoming matches, such as Wednesday's Champions League tie against Dortmund. First up is the match against Huesca, defined by Julen Lopetegui himself as the most complicated game of the week. The Basque manager insists that the only way to be competitive in each and every single match during this intense schedule is by focusing exclusively on what lies just ahead - the next one. 

That means focusing exculsively on the match against Pacheta's side, who has demonstrated the effect of the "new manager bounce" since taking charge at El Alcoraz last month. After a win away at Valladolid, the side from Upper Aragon made things very difficult for Real Madrid last Saturday, who had to come from behind in the second half to take all three points. However, SD Huesca are still in 20th place, two points behind Elche CF, who have two games in hand on today's opponents. Pacheta has picked a 21-man travellling squad. Mosquera and ex-Sevillista Sandro Ramírez are unavailable. 

Mosquera and ex-Sevillista Sandro have not travelled for Huesca due to injuries

As for Sevilla, it remains to be seen whether Julen Lopetegui will give any rest to key players after the cup win in midweek, and the upcoming Champions League tie. Óscar Rodríguez could make a return from injury, as he trained with the squad this week, but Acuña, Navas and Ocampos miss out. After eight consecutive victories in all competitions, six consecutive clean sheets in all competitions and four straight league wins, the team will be going all out to extend their sensational run of results, at a moment when all three competitions come together, a hugely demanding point in the season, both in terms of fixture congestion and the opponents. 

The match will be refereed by the Catalan official David Medié Jiménez. The Nervionenses have a favourable record in matches that he has refereed, with five wins and one draw in his six matches. He refereed the league opener this season at the Carranza, a 3-1 win, and took charge of the last meeting between Sevilla and Huesca in Nervión, a 2-1 win in October 2018.