ON THE VERGE OF A RECORD POINTS TOTAL AFTER TWELVE MATCHDAYS IN THE FIRST DIVISION

After 13 matchdays have been played - 12 games in the case of Sevilla - the team continues to pull away at the top of the league. With the halfway point of La Liga Santander ever closer, Sevilla FC have a points tally without much precedent in the club's history in the first division. In fact, the 27 points out of a possible 36 are the second-best in the club's history, or the third if the current system of three points for a win is used, as came into force in the 1995/96 season. With eight wins, three draws and just one defeat Sevilla are in third place with the same number of points and games as Real Madrid and a goal difference of one less, and are a point off the leader Real Sociedad, who have played one game more. 

There is only one previous time in the club's history that this record has been bettered. It was during the 2006/07 season in which after 12 match days the team had one more point under the management of Juande Ramos. He managed nine victories, one more than currently, but also two fewer draws and one defeat more. In terms of goal difference, that Sevilla side had scored 25 - four more than now - and conceded 11, also four more than now. On the thirteenth matchday of that season, Sevilla FC fell to defeat in Montjui 2-1 against Espanyol which means that Lopetegui's squad will equal this mark after the international break if they draw at home to Alavés and will surpass it with a win. 

Going even further back in the history of the first division, you find a second performance that betters slightly the achievements of today. It was during the 1950/51 season in which the team finished as runners-up two points behind Atlético Madrid. After 12 matchdays the squad managed by Campanal 1 was the league leader after accumulating, as in 2006/07, nine wins, a draw and two defeats. With two points for a win this meant 19 points in the table. In terms of goals, in a very different style of football today they scored 42 goals but also conceded 20. On the thirteenth matchday, they also lost away from home against FC Barcelona, which means that this mark is achievable for Julen Lopetegui's squad in Sevilla against Alavés.