Preview: Sevilla vs. Villarreal - prediction, team news

Two teams that drew 2-2 in their opening fixtures of the 2024-25 La Liga campaign will lock horns at Estadio Ramon on Friday evening, with Sevilla welcoming Villarreal for an intriguing affair.

The hosts shared the points with Las Palmas in their campaign opener, while their visitors held Atletico to a draw in their first game of the new season at Estadio de la Ceramica.

Match preview

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Garcia Pimienta's reign as Sevilla head coach began with a 2-2 draw against Las Palmas last Friday; the visitors twice led in Gran Canaria, but the points were ultimately shared, with Sandro Ramirez netting the game's fourth goal in the 71st minute after Juanlu Sanchez had sent Sevilla 2-1 ahead just past the hour.

Los Nervionenses finished 14th in La Liga last season, which proved to be their worst top-flight campaign since being relegated in 2000, so there is plenty of room for improvement this term.

Sevilla have been busy in the transfer market this summer, with seven new players arriving, including Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico Madrid, while Kelechi Iheanacho is a notable signing in the final third of the field.

The Andalusian outfit have only won one of their last five La Liga games against Villarreal, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when the two teams locked horns in the corresponding fixture last term.

Sevilla will be desperate to secure a return to the Champions League for the 2025-26 campaign, but there are huge questions over whether the squad is strong enough to launch a challenge for the top four this season.

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Villarreal, meanwhile, twice led against Atletico on Monday evening, with Arnaut Danjuma sending the Yellow Submarine 1-0 ahead in the 18th minute, before an own goal from Koke in the 37th minute made it 2-1 after Marcos Llorente had levelled the scores two minutes after the breakthrough.

However, Alexander Sorloth scored against his former club to make it 2-2 in the closing stages of the first period, and there were no more goals at Estadio de la Ceramica, with the points being shared.

Villarreal finished eighth in Spain's top flight last season, which will have to go down as a disappointment, as it proved to be just the second time that they had been outside of the top seven since earning promotion back to the top flight for the 2013-14 campaign.

The Yellow Submarine have made seven signings this summer, with their latest addition proving to be goalkeeper Luiz Junior from Famalicao, while Willy Kambwala, Ayoze Perez and Nicolas Pepe are among those to arrive.

Sorloth has been their biggest departure this summer, with the striker scoring 26 times in all competitions during the 2023-24 campaign, but goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has also moved on to Chelsea.

Team News

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Sevilla will again be missing Suso and new signing Albert Sambi Lokonga due to injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape for their second match of the new campaign.

Head coach Garcia Pimienta will be able to hand a debut to Saul, who was suspended last time out, and the on-loan Atletico Madrid midfielder could replace Dodi Lukebakio in the XI.

The bulk of the players that started against Las Palmas are set to retain their spots, though, with Juanlu Sanchez again expected to feature in an attacking area, while Isaac Romero, who scored four league goals in 14 appearances last season, should lead the line.

As for Villarreal, Luiz Junior is in line to make his debut, having recently arrived from Famalicao, with the goalkeeper expected to replace Diego Conde for Friday's contest.

The rest of the side could be unchanged from the clash against Atletico, though, with Yeremy Pino and Alex Baena set to continue in the wide areas, allowing Danjuma to play through the middle with Gerard Moreno.

Danjuma was on the scoresheet against Atletico, and the forward will be looking to kick on at Villarreal following recent loan spells in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and Everton.

Villarreal were missing Denis Suarez, Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza for their season opener against Atletico, and the trio are again set to be unavailable for selection here.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Carmona, Nianzou, Gudelj, Pedrosa; Agoume, Sow; Ocampos, Saul, J Sanchez; Romero

Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Junior; Femenia, Albiol, Bailly, Cardona; Pino, Parejo, Comesana, Baena; G Moreno, Danjuma

We say: Sevilla 1-1 Villarreal

The points were shared in a 1-1 draw in the corresponding match last season, and we can see the same scoreline here. Both will feel that they can hurt the other in the final third, but a tight match should end with the spoils being shared.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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