After a below-average start to the season, Los Nervionenses sit 15th in the standings, just 4 points above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, their fierce rivals are currently in sixth place, five points off the Champions League places.
As such, Sunday’s derby goes to Sevilla FC and Real Betis for other reasons. Here’s a look at five points that make the next Great Derby a can’t-miss showdown.
A historic rivalry
Few cities in Europe can boast of having two groups with so many fans. Seville is the fourth largest city in Spain with a population of around 700,000. It is also a city that breathes football, with a large majority of Sevilla FC and Real Betis fans. . In fact, Los Verdiblancos has more than 70,000 members and around 50,000 season ticket holders, while Sevilla FC has more than 50,000 members and up to 39,000 season ticket holders. This means that 17% of Sevillians actively participate in one of the two historic clubs. That crowd will be heard loud and transparent just before kick-off, when the home fans sing the famous Sevilla FC Centenary Anthem a cappella.
Real Betis are looking for their first away win since 2018
Real Betis have been defeated in 4 of their last five league trips to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuan Stadium. In fact, the last time the Verdiblancos managed to win all 3 games against Sevilla FC was in January 2018, when the visitors achieved a memorable 5 Victory -3 in the most aspirational derby in the history of the EA SPORTS Liga. But Real Betis are in good form and have not lost any of their last seven league games. Winning El Gran Derbi at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium is still a simple task, but it may be the best opportunity for Los Verdiblancos to fight for their first away victory against Sevilla FC in five years.
A duel of South American coaches
For new Sevilla FC coach Diego Alonso, El Gran Derbi comes early in his tenure and he knows it would be the best time to achieve his first win in La Liga EA SPORTS, having started with 3 draws against Real Madrid and Cádiz CF. and RC Celta. The Nervionenses have not celebrated a single win in La Liga EA SPORTS since last September, when they beat UD Almeria at home. It was one of only two wins recorded by the reigning Europa League champions in 11 league games. Sevilla FC want to win and their new Uruguayan coach hopes to do so against Manuel Pellegrini, the veteran Chilean tactician.
Isco reunites with his former team
Few players have worn the historic shirts of Sevilla FC and Real Betis, but Isco falls into that category. The former Real Madrid midfielder spent a few months at Los Nervionenses last season, before signing for Real Betis last summer. The Spanish midfielder has taken the EA SPORTS La Liga by storm, recording two goals and a pair of assists in 12 league games, while also impacting the game in other tactics beyond. The midfielder has won the MVP award in 8 of the 12 aforementioned games, and he will take away anything that could prove to be against his former team.
Nabil Fekir is back
Eight months after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament, Nabil Fekir made his way back in Real Betis’ final matchday against RCD Mallorca. In a symbolic gesture, Germán Pezzella passed the captain’s armband to Fekir, who came on with 3 minutes to go. and earned a standing ovation from the fans at the Benito Villamarín Stadium. Manuel Pellegrini might have shown that Fekir will not start on Sunday, but the 30-year-old midfielder is expected to be by his side from the bench. One of the most talented players in La Liga EA SPORTS, Fekir is missed by Real Betis enthusiasts, who are eager for him to get back to top form and blend in midfield with Isco. There is no better level to start this new partnership than El Gran Derbi.
–IANOS
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