Real Madrid Return to La Liga to Face Sevilla: Opposition Preview

On Sunday evening, the attention of Real Madrid will briefly shift back to domestic matters as they host Sevilla on match day nine of the La Liga season - the teams final home game in the league until the 22nd of November - incidentally when Vinicius returns from his ban.

So, what can we expect from the visitors this weekend?

It has been a fairly decent start to the season for Sevilla, who currently sit in fifth place in La Liga with 14 points from their eight games, one place and four points below Real Madrid. 

They are not a side with flashy players, but they have a lot of workman like pros who will always put in a shift, and will make sure you have to earn your victory, if you are to pick up the three points. 

Midfielder Youssouf Fofana has been a revelation since joining on loan from Serie A giants AC Milan in the summer transfer window, and picked up an assist last time out against Levante. 

Meanwhile, Scottish striker Robbie Ure scored his first goal for the club in the same game, and also registered an assist, as well as creating two big chances, all despite playing just 68 minutes of the game. 

So, it is clear to see that they can be quite handy going forwards, but at the back they can certainly be exposed by Jose Mourinho's side. They were 2-1 up heading into stoppage time against Levante, yet drew 3-3. So, twice in injury time they managed to blow a lead. 

Under manager Luis Garcia, they like to play an expansive style of play and press high up the pitch. They even did this when playing Barcelona (to their detriment), so we can probably expect them to do similar at the Bernabeu this weekend. 

Just before conceding the second stoppage time equaliser last time out, forward Isaac Romero - currently the team's joint top scorer with two goals in the league - picked up a second yellow, and will be suspended for this one. 

Fellow forward Miguel Sierra is also set to miss out with injury, alongside defender Marcao, so that is something that could play into Real Madrid's hands during the game, but we will see.

Los Blancos actually have a pretty good record against Sunday's opponents, with the last loss coming back in September 2018, under Julen Lopetegui, who would go onto manage Sevilla later down the line. Let's hope for more of the same this weekend.

Possible Sevilla XI against Real Madrid; Vlachodimos; Iglesias, Castrin, Salas, Suazo; Sangante, Agoume; Akuje, Fofana, Correira; Ure. Absences; Romero, Marcao, Sierra, doubts; Kochorashvili, Guridi.