Sunday brings around one of LaLiga's most passionate and colourful fixtures, with Real Betis hosting Sevilla FC in a derby clash just as both teams are hitting their best form.
The Andalusian capital is possibly the most football crazy city in all of Spain, with official figures showing that almost 10% of its 700,000 population are paid-up members of one of its two historic LaLiga clubs.
The impact of the 90 minutes at the 60,000-capacity Benito Villamarin will go well beyond the three LaLiga points on offer, and both history and recent results from the two teams suggesting a tight and thrilling is in prospect.
Sevilla have had a very positive start to the 2019/20 campaign, especially considering that last summer saw a new coach Julen Lopetegui arrive, bringing in 11 players in the process. They were top of the table after four games, then hit a tricky spot, but have roared back into form and last weekend’s thrilling 1-1 draw against Atletico de Madrid kept them within one point of the lead.
Across the city, Betis have had a characteristically inconsistent start to the season, as their new signings bedded in and new coach in Joan Francesc Ferrer - known as Rubi – got his bearings. After a rocky spell which saw them down in the relegation places last month, they showed mental strength to turn things around with a crunch 2-1 victory against RC Celta, and then achieve a battling 0-0 draw away at Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu last Saturday.
A star of Sevilla’s 2019/20 so far has been new signing Argentina international winger Lucas Ocampos, who has four goals in his first 11 LaLiga appearances. Other summer signings to make an instant impression have been former Eibar midfielder Joan Jordan and Real Madrid loanee left-back Sergio Reguilon. Experienced club servants Jesus Navas and Ever Banega have also been crucial as Lopetegui has quickly built a cohesive new team, which is also progressing well in this season's Europa League.
Betis’ striker Loren Moron has stood out so far this term, with his seven goals in first 11 games putting the home-grown goalscorer among the leaders in LaLiga’s top scorer race. Brazilian right-back Emerson has raided forward dangerously with two goals and two assists already. A new fans favourite is France’s 2018 World Cup winner Nabil Fekir, while the return to fitness and form of midfielders Sergio Canales and Andres Guardado has been a timely boost for coach Rubi.
Last season’s derbies were both won by the home side, with Betis captain Joaquin Sanchez scoring a dramatic late winner at the Benito Villamarin in September, and Sevilla winning 3-2 in a ding-dong battle in the return in April. The rojiblancos have generally had the upper hand in front of their own fans through recent campaigns, although a record verdiblanco 5-3 victory at the Sanchez-Pizjuan in January 2018 is still remembered on both sides of the city.
Both teams’ injury issues also look to be clearing up, so they should be close to full strength for what is one of Spanish football’s landmark occasions. Will Lopetegui's rojiblancos come out on top again, or can Rubi's verdiblancos spring another surprise? Supporters from all over the world will have their eyes on the Benito Villamarin to find out.
Tightest LaLiga title race in decades returns with chance for six different teams to go top
The tightest LaLiga title race in decades returns this weekend - with six different teams with a chance to go top, and it possible that a different side will lead the table on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
After more surprises last weekend, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad all have 22 points after 12 games - with Atletico Madrid and Sevilla just one behind, Granada just two adrift, and eight more teams within five points of the top.
The action is in the Basque country as Saturday’s schedule begins at Alaves - who have conceded just twice so far at their Mendizorroza, although visitors R.Valladolid CF will travel confident having lost just one of their last seven LaLiga games.
Surprise packages Granada CF will be aiming to regain some momentum after two straight LaLiga defeats early on Saturday afternoon, when they visit a Valencia CF side who are unbeaten in front of their own fans at Mestalla this term.
Real Madrid will then look to keep pace with the leaders when they travel to an in-form SD Eibar side - with both teams remembering well that the Basques won this fixture last year 3-0 for their first ever LaLiga victory over the Bernabeu outfit.
FC Barcelona are then out at the Camp Nou where they have won all five LaLiga games so far this season, scoring 21 times. The visitors are a RC.Celta team whose new coach is Oscar Garcia, a scorer of 21 LaLiga goals and winner of four LaLiga titles in the 1990s as a Barça player.
Sunday’s programme begins in the Balearic Islands, where a RCD Mallorca side who are so difficult to beat at home take on an attack-mindedVillarreal CF team including current LaLiga 'Pichichi' top scorer Gerard Moreno.
On a high after scoring three times in seven minutes while beating Barca last weekend, Levante UD travel on Sunday to Athletic Club’s San Mames, where Los Leones have conceded just twice so far all season.
Atletico Madrid have remained in the title race despite five draws in their last six games, but Diego Simeone’s men will want a victory on Sunday at home to Espanyol, whose new coach Pablo Machin often had success against Atletico when at former club Girona.
Two of LaLiga’s most in-form teams then meet at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez, with hosts Getafe CF looking for a fifth win in six outings, and visitors Osasuna having taken 10 points from their last five games.
Sunday’s late game is one of the highlights of LaLiga’s annual calendar, with Real Betis welcoming Sevilla FC to what will be a buzzing Benito Villamarin stadium. The Andalusian capital’s derby is always a colourful occasion, with international stars on both sides this year ensuring a big global audience.
Courtesy of LaLiga
