La Liga: Baptism of Fire for Alonso

Sevilla FC vs Real Madrid

Leaders Real Madrid face 14^th placed Sevilla on Saturday as La Liga action gets back under way after the international break.

And the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium will welcome a new man in the dugout. Sevilla boss Diego Alonso has only been in the job for a week following the departure of Jose Luis Mendilibar and it could hardly be a more difficult start for the new boss than to meet Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid.  

The latest La Liga 2023 betting odds back Los Blancos to win the title, at a price of 1.64, after a strong start to the campaign. But with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in hot pursuit, not to mention surprise package Girona, Real need to keep the momentum going and to come up against Sevilla at this point may not be ideal if there is a new manager bounce.

Sevilla have lots of talent in their squad and the fans will give their new man plenty of support…but I suspect he might need it!

Talking Points

Ramos set to meet his old pals

Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos could be in line for an emotional reunion with his Los Blancos friends on Saturday. The centre back snubbed offers from Saudi Arabia to sign for Sevilla, his boyhood club. He returned after an 18 year absence having played 39 games for the first team there as a teenager. Of course, Los Blancos fans know Ramos as one of their own; in his 16 seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu he made 469 appearances scoring 72 goals and winning five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.

Real Madrid fans will be delighted to see Ramos, though he may start on the bench, but they will be less pleased to come up against Dodi Lukebakio if he continues his rapid progress. The young forward has made a great start to his career in Seville since his £8m transfer from Hertha Berlin, scoring twice already and he also bagged a brace when Belgium beat Austria 3-2 on Friday. And Lukebakio has an experienced striker alongside him In Youssef En Nesyri who scored in a 2-2 draw against Rayo Vallecano before the break, to make it three for the campaign.

With the quality of advanced midfielders Ivan Rakitic and Lucas Ocampos in the side, Sevilla have plenty of creative muscle, and they will be keen to use it in their climb away from the drop zone.            

Alaba ready to return for Madrid

While they may come up against their former defensive rock, the league leaders are hopeful of welcoming back another experienced head from the current crop of Los Blancos. Utility defender David Alaba has been spotted in training this week and that’s great news for the club after he pulled out of Austria’s squad due to a groin strain. He has missed Real Madrid’s last three games, since he picked up his injury against Las Palmas in September, and his return will hugely strengthen Ancelotti’s defensive hand. The boss may introduce him carefully, possibly on the bench, with the next week’s El Clasico looming into view.     

20 year old star Jude Bellingham was in international action this week and he was in outstanding form as England beat Italy on Tuesday to qualify for Euro 2024; and Bellingham has already made his fair share of La Liga 2023 news headlines, scoring eight goals in his first eight league games, including two in Madrid’s win over Osasuna before the international break. While Bellingham is ripping up the record books in La Liga, experienced striker Joselu has also made an impressive start to his Real Madrid career, five goals taking him to third place in the race for the Pichichi.

With Federico Valverde making three assists and Toni Kroos two, this is a team with multiple threats and a great chance of winning the 2023/24 title.  

History

Los Blancos have won 43 of the 64 encounters since 1993, while Sevilla have won 16 and there have been five draws. Madrid have also won the last four meetings, including a 2-1 victory at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in May.

In terms of recent form Madrid are in better shape too, with five wins from six; the only defeat coming in the Madrid derby. Meanwhile Sevilla have only won once, but they have only lost one of the last six, drawing the other four.  

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.88 Real Madrid are strong favourites to pick up another three points in Seville, while the hosts can be backed at 3.35 and the draw is 3.35.

Los Blancos should come through, but facing a new manager and a team which has not been easy to beat will make it more complicated; and Los Sevillistas have no shortage of talent. I do think, with two exciting forward lines we’ll see goals though, and three or more could easily be on the cards. 

 

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