MADRID, 16 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Sevilla, fourth-placed in LaLiga Santander, aspires to endorse their ‘Champions’ position in Balaídos this Sunday (4.15pm) before facing Lille, on a ninth day in which Osasuna and Rayo want to continue in continental positions against Villarreal ( 6.30 pm) and Elche (2.00 pm), respectively.
Julen Lopetegui’s men hope to reap their first European victory this season on Wednesday at the Pierre-Mauroy Stadium, but first they will have to redirect the course in LaLiga after giving up before the break against Granada (1-0) their first defeat in the domestic competition .
Despite having one game less than their rivals, the Nervionense team, the least beaten in the championship (3), is only three points behind leaders Real Madrid, Atlético and Real Sociedad; the first two will not play this day, so only the Donostiarras could deprive him of the co-leadership if he is able to overcome Celta.
The Galicians (7), three units above the drop, interrupted in Elche (1-0) a streak of two consecutive wins, and now they need to win again to avoid being involved in problems. The ‘Chacho’ Coudet will have only the loss of the injured Renato Tapia, while the sevillistas will not be able to count on either the sanctioned Diego Carlos or Youssef En Nesyri, Jules Koundé and the ‘Papu’ Gómez.
At the Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal (11), before facing Young Boys in the Champions League, will try to remain undefeated in LaLiga against Osasuna (14), who holds the fifth place after winning three of their last four encounters.
Jagoba Arrasate’s team accumulates the same units as Sevilla and a rental point on Athletic Club, the first of the applicants to sneak into continental positions. After defeating Mallorca (2-3) and Rayo (1-0) just before the national team break, he is looking forward to a third win in a row against Unai Emery’s men, a duel in which he will not be able to count on Ontiveros, Ramalho, Aridane Hernández nor Budimir.
The Castellón, who have not yet fallen in the domestic competition -two wins and five draws-, want to continue their success against Real Betis (2-0) and keep their clean sheet for the third consecutive game, all in a clash in the one that the Basque technician will be able to dispose of all his men.
Finally, Rayo (13) receives Elche in Vallecas wanting to leave behind his stumbling block in El Sadar, after having reaped 12 of the last 15 points in play. Radamel Falcao and Álvaro García have led the Franco-red team to the European positions, which they hope to defend without Iván Balliu or Martín Merquelanz.
Opposite, the Elche team (9) wants to continue moving away from the lower zone, something they already achieved two weeks ago with their home win against Celta. Diego González will miss the game due to injury, while Pedro Bigas could return after overcoming a knee sprain.
-PROGRAM OF THE SUNDAY DAY IN LALIGA SANTANDER.
Rayo Vallecano – Elche. Jaime Latre (C. Aragonés) 14:00.
Celta – Seville. From Burgos Bengoetxea (C. Vasco) 16:15.
Villarreal – Osasuna. Cordero Vega (C. Cantabro) 18:30.
FC Barcelona – Valencia. Gil Manzano (C. Extremeño) 21:00.