Valencia face Sevilla in LaLiga survival fight

In the midst of a punishing relegation scrap, Valencia and Sevilla face off in LaLiga on Sunday (Apr 16) in a fixture which once had loftier aspirations on the line.

While Real Madrid and Barcelona have firmly established a duopoly at the top of LaLiga in recent years, Valencia and Sevilla had consistently been among the chasing pack vying for European football, but both clubs have fallen on tough times.

Valencia are under threat of going down for the first time since they were promoted to the Spanish top-flight in 1987, and sit 18th in the standings with 27 points from 28 games following a 2-1 defeat at fellow strugglers Almeria.

They have won just two of their last 14 matches and will have their task cut out against Sevilla, who they have not beaten since 2019.

"Next week we have another final," Valencia captain Jose Gaya said after last week's loss.

"After today's defeat, which hurts a lot, we have to regroup quickly to get out of the bottom, make the most of the week to prepare the game and beat Sevilla at home."

Sevilla, in Europa League action against Manchester United later on Thursday, are just five points above Valencia in 13th, though they have not lost since firing coach Jorge Sampaoli last month and appointing Jose Luis Mendilibar as his replacement.

However, they will be without mainstays Pape Gueye and Marcos Acuna, both of whom were sent off in a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo.

Runaway leaders Barcelona will travel to 15th-placed Getafe on Sunday, as they look to get back to winning ways after spurning an opportunity to extend their lead atop the standings to 15 points.

After second-placed Real fell to a 3-2 defeat against Villarreal last week, Barcelona were held to a goalless draw by mid-table Girona at Camp Nou.

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