BEFORE THE TRIP TO SALZBURG, A CRUCIAL MATCH AGAINST VILLARREAL

After two away matches, Sevilla FC are back at home, and this time rain is not forecast. After picking up only a point from the matches against Alavés and Real Madrid, a win is a must. The team did deserve more from those two outings, but it means there is no room for error against a Villarreal side who also need a win. Despite their 8-0 cup win in midweek, Unai Emery's side have won just one of their last seven league matches, placing them in midtable, despite the fact that they have had a strong showing in the UEFA Champions League, needing just a point to progress.

Sevilla also have a huge European match in midweek in Salzburg, but Lopetegui has made it very clear that the only thing that matters right now is Villarreal. Even more so when you consider the team's current injury list, with Navas, Suso, En-Nesyri and Lamela all unavailable. Gudelj and Delaney could also miss out after picking up knocks in Córdoba. Fernando and Rakitic are also one yellow card away from a one-match suspension, so a booking today would mean they would miss next week's fixture in Bilbao.

Villarreal have got a result in four of their last five visits to Nervión

Today's match will also be special, as it is the first time that Unai Emery will be in the dugout in Nervión in front of the fans since he was Sevilla manager. He returned to Spain last year, but with last season's match behind closed doors, he has not been in front of the fans at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán since he joined PSG in the summer of 2016. Villarreal have a good record in this fixture in recent years, taking points on four consecutive visits before last season's 2-0 defeat. Aurier and Coquelin are ruled out, while Danjuma is a doubt.

Carlos del Cerro Grande is the referee for today's match. He has taken charge of 33 Sevilla matches, with 17 wins, ten draws and six losses. His only match in charge so far this season was the 2-0 win at home to Osasuna. He has also officiated two matches between the two sides, a 0-0 draw in 2016/17 and a 2-1 win at home in 2011/12. Ignacio Iglesias Villanueva is on VAR duty.