Sevilla/Oviedo, Dec 13 (EFE).- Sevilla and Real Oviedo will face an agonizing and urgent duel this Sunday at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to escape from the lower zone in the case of the Andalusians and initiate a forced reaction that will give them courage in their fight against relegation, in the case of the Asturians, in a clash marked by numerous losses in both.
Sevilla, the Argentine Matías Almeyda, after losing two points in stoppage time in the last draw in Valencia (1-1), now has this new “final” before them, as his coach has described the last games, with the urgent need to break a series of three wins that keeps them in thirteenth place with 17 points, three of them from relegation.
And even more so at home, where they have only managed three wins so far in 2025, and against a direct competitor to stay, given the situation and the turbulent phase that the Seville club is going through, which has been flirting with the relegation places for three seasons and is in complete sporting and institutional decline, with a possible sale in the pipeline.
To give some respite to the disappointed Sevilla community with a new victory, Almeyda will have to cope with several and notable defeats after the victory four days ago against Osasuna (1-0), before the defeat against Espanyol (2-1) and the disaster in a derby in which they were far inferior to Betis (0-2), although he does not want any excuses.
As of Thursday, Sevilla had 11 players in the hospital due to various ailments, to which were added two absences due to suspension: that of playmaker Gerard Fernández “Peque,” one of their fittest men when the game was formed; and homegrown striker Isaac Romero, who will serve his second penalty game against Oviedo.
Of these eleven footballers, Norwegian goalkeeper Nyland, central defender Azpilicueta – a key player who was injured in training on Thursday -, Brazilian Marcao and Frenchman Nianzou are unavailable; and Swiss winger Rubén Vargas, although the Argentine coach brought back wingers Alfon González after a frantic last-minute process and Belgian Januzaj; and defenders Ramón Martínez, Kike Salas, Juanlu Sánchez and Chilean Gabriel Suazo.
It seems that none of them can be in the starting XI, except Suazo, although Joaquín Martínez “Oso” from the youth team could repeat on the left after his good play in the Cup and in Valencia, together with the Serbians Gudelj and Castrín, also from the reserve team, at the back, with an attacking trident made up of the Chilean Alexis Sánchez and the Nigerians Akor Adams and Ejuke.
Meanwhile, Real Oviedo, second-to-last by 10 points and 5 points away from relegation, is on course to go three months without a win – since beating Valencia 2-1 on September 30 – and returns to Seville 25 years later with the need to win to move closer to the rescue zone.
His coach, Luis Carrión, leaves Sibo after a limping week in Oviedo, and Javi López and Brandon Domingues return, although he is missing two key players in the blue team, Fede Viñas and Santi Cazorla, due to suspension.
Additionally, midfielders Ovie Ejaria and Luka Ilic will miss the Seville event due to physical problems, and right-back Nachi Vidal will miss out at the last minute due to an injury sustained in the final training session.
Due to the absences of Viñas and Cazorla, Lucas wants to start on the right and the Oviedo coach could for the first time rely on two wingers in the starting XI, Hassan and Ilyas Chaira, with Alberto Reina as a midfield link and an attack in which Rondón and Álex Forés play for that position.
Real Oviedo has gone eight games in a row without a win and will begin the Sánchez-Pizjuán game more than a game away from salvation.
Sevilla and Real Oviedo have not seen each other in an official game for more than 25 years: it was in the 1999/2000 season when the Blues, coached by Luis Aragonés, won 2-3 at the stadium in the Nervión district and then took an important step towards their durability against a Sevilla team that had been practically relegated.
– Likely alignments:
Seville: Odysseas Vlachodimos; Carmona, Gudelj, Castrín, Oso or Suazo; Agoumé, Mendy, Sow; Alexis, Akor Adams and Ejuke.
Oviedo: Aaron Escandell; Lucas, Costas, Carmo, Rahim; Dendoncker, Colombatto; Hassan, Reina, Ilyas Chaira; and Rondon.
Referee: Isidro Díaz de Mera (Castile-La Mancha).
Stadium: Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
Time: 2:00 p.m. EFE
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