TIME FOR THE VISIT OF CA OSASUNA, THE BEST AWAY SIDE IN LALIGA

With the bittersweet taste of Wednesday's draw against Mallorca still lingering, Sevilla FC are straight back into action this weekend with their Matchday 12 fixture, the eleventh of the season due to the postponement of the match against Barcelona. Jagoba Arrasate's CA Osasuna are the visitors this afternoon, and, to this date, they are the best away side in LaLiga, taking 13 points from a possible 15 so far this season (Real Madrid also have 13 points, but from six matches instead of five). They currently lie seventh in the table with 19 points.

So, Julen Lopetegui's side will be trying to become the first team to win at home to Osasuna, and also to maintain their 100% record at home in the league. The Blanquirrojos have won all four home league matches so far, and a win this afternoon would mean the best start to a season at home since 2016/17, when they kicked off the season with five home wins in the league, a club record. A win would also allow the team to move level with Rayo Vallecano in terms of points at home, with the side from Madrid winning all five matches in Vallecas so far. Sevilla are third in the table heading into this match, and trail league leaders Real Sociedad by three points, albeit with a game in hand. 

The side from Pamplona have taken 13 points from a possible 15 so far this season

In yesterday's pre-match press conference, Lopetegui stated that "it's no secret how good Osasuna are", and he is fully aware that this is a very solid team with a well-defined style of play on the road. As for the visitors, starting goalkeeper Sergio Herrera misses out due to a hamstring injury that he picked up at the Bernabéu in midweek, but Croatian striker Ante Budimir is back in the squad for the first time in nearly two months. 

The referee for today's match is Del Cerro Grande from Madrid, while Estrada Fernández is on VAR duty. Kick-off at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán is scheduled for 16:15.