Betis and Las Palmas want to get closer to the continental zone
MADRID, 25 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Sociedad, sixth classified in LaLiga EA Sports, receives this Sunday a Sevilla that still does not react thanks to Diego Alonso (4:15 p.m.), in a fourteenth matchday in which Real Betis and UD Las Palmas bid for the Benito Villamarín for approaching the European zone (9:00 p.m.) and in which Villarreal, in the redebut of Marcelino García Toral, and Osasuna want to take another step in their aspirations (2:00 p.m.).
The San Sebastian team came to the break with a firm victory in Almería (1-3) that allowed them to settle in sixth place with 22 points, two away from Athletic Club’s fifth position, six from Atlético’s fourth place and one ahead over the first of the candidates to enter the continental zone, Betis (21).
Now, they will be able to focus all their efforts at the end of the year in the domestic competition after guaranteeing their presence in the round of 16 of the Champions League by beating Benfica (3-1). On Wednesday they will host Salzburg on the penultimate matchday, before visiting the Giuseppe Meazza to, predictably, play for first place in Group D.
Only Barça, Atleti and Real Madrid have managed to beat the ‘txuri urdin’ team at the start of the season, which wants to establish itself in the privileged zone on a day in which they will have the doubt of forward Mikel Oyarzabal, who had to leave the concentration of the Spanish team due to a femoral biceps injury.
Even so, Imanol Alguacil does not rule him out completely, nor does Kieran Tierney and André Silva. On the other hand, neither Martín Merquelanz nor Carlos Fernández will be available this Sunday, both with knee injuries.
Opposite, Sevilla still does not raise its head despite the change on the bench. Not counting the comfortable victory in the Copa del Rey against the modest Quintanar de la Orden, the team has gone nine games without winning, six already with the Uruguayan coach in charge. Just before the national team ‘window’, he saved a point at the Pizjuán in the Seville derby (1-1).
Their numbers, which include five consecutive draws in the last league rounds, leave them thirteenth with 12 points, five above the relegation spots and ten above the European positions. In ‘Champions’ they are practically eliminated after losing in London against Arsenal (2-0) to remain bottom of Group B.
Without Nemanja Gudelj, due to an accumulation of cards, nor the injured Alfonso Pastor, Suso Fernández and Erik Lamela, the Sevillistas will keep an eye on the injured Örjan Nyland and Marcao.
MARCELINO RETURNS TO VILLARREAL AGAINST OSASUNA
At the Estadio de la Cerámica, Marcelino García Toral comes to the rescue of Villarreal, whom he already promoted to First Division and coached between 2012 and 2016. Neither Quique Setién nor Pacheta have managed to settle on the bench of the ‘Yellow Submarine’, which now returns to trust the Asturian coach to get out of the hole.
In contrast to their good performance in the Old Continent, where they are second in Group F of the Europa League, in LaLiga only five points separate them from the danger zone after falling in their last two games against Athletic Club (2- 3) and Atlético (3-1).
With two more units than the Castellón team, Osasuna (14) has also gone three games without winning: two defeats against Real Betis (2-1) and Girona (2-4) and a draw just before the break against Las Palmas (1- 1). A win this Sunday could change his inertia and make him aspire for more.
Once again, the Navarrese will once again be led by Ante Budimir, who scored the goal that earned Croatia a place in Euro 2024. Darko Brasanac, with a soleus injury, and Kike Barja, injured in his hamstring, will not be there. In the local team, Marcelino will regret the absences of Alexander Sorloth, Yeremy Pino, Aissa Mandi, Denis Suárez and Francis Coquelin, pending how the Matteo Gabbia player evolves.
Finally, Real Betis (21) and Las Palmas (18), seventh and eighth in the classification respectively, meet at the Benito Villamarín with the intention of getting closer to the noble zone, just one point for the Verdiblancos and four for the canary painting
The Sevillian team, which has not lost since last September 21 – against Rangers in the Europa League, arrives ready for the event, although with the bittersweet taste of having let a point slip away in the Seville derby (1-1). There are already 12 consecutive games without losing in all competitions for Manuel Pellegrini’s team, who now want to distance themselves from a direct rival.
García Pimienta’s men, for their part, have added seven of the last points at stake, with two wins in Almería (1-2) and against Atlético (2-1) and a draw against Osasuna (1-1).
Claudio Bravo, Marc Bartra and Youssou Sabaly will miss the duel and Rui Silva is a doubt for the Betic team, while Fabio González, Eric Curbelo and Álvaro Lemos are the safe casualties for the Gran Canaria team.
–SUNDAY PROGRAM AT LALIGA EA SPORTS.
Villarreal – Osasuna. De Burgos Bengoetxea (C.Vasco) 14.00.
Real Sociedad – Seville. Ortiz Arias (C. Madrid) 16.15.
Cadiz – Real Madrid. Cuadra Fernández (C.Balearic) 18.30.
Real Betis – Las Palmas. García Verdura (Catalan) 21.00.