LOOKING TO END A RUN OF NINE STRAIGHT DEFEATS AT SAN MAMÉS

Sevilla FC are now heading to LaLiga Matchday 35, the eighth matchday since football resumed after it was suspended due to the pandemic. They have taken 13 points from those seven games so far, and Julen Lopetegui's side face a difficult away match as they look to extend their record unbeaten run in the league to 12 matches. 

With just twelve points up for grabs, and after Villarreal's win last night away at Getafe means they are now the only rivals for Champions League qualification, tonight's match in Biscay now becomes essential. A win for Sevilla would take them six points clear of Villarreal with just three games remaining. In short, a win would take the Nervionenses within touching distance of playing in Europe's elite competition next season. 

Sevilla FC are 12 points ahead of Athletic, who are still in the fight for Europa League qualification 

The Andalusians go into tonight's clash with 60 points and are in fourth place, three ahead of fifth-placed Villarreal, who have a better head-to-head record. For Athletic, they are on 48 points in ninth place, three behind Real Sociedad and five behind Getafe, so they could gain ground on the two sides tonight. This is far from a easy clash for the Blanquirrojos, with San Mamés being a ground where they tend to become unstuck. They have lost nine consecutive league matches away at Athletic, and have yet to take a point there since a 0-4 win in 2009, when Manolo Jiménez was manager. However, Sevilla did win there in the Copa del Rey last season, a 1-3 win in the Round of 16. 

Lopetegui, who has Koundé back in his squad after his ban, highlighted the importance of this match in his pre-match press conference, as well as stating that "now it's time to give Bono all our confidence", after Tomas Vaclík's injury against Eibar on Monday night. Gaizka Garitano also has selection issues; Raúl Garcia is banned, while Yeray picked up an injury against Real Madrid on Sunday. 

The match will take place at San Mamés on Thursday 9th July at 22:00, and will be refereed by Catalan referee Medié Jiménez. Iglesias Villanueva is on VAR duty.