Sevilla will be aiming to move to within three points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid when they make the trip to Estadio de Mendizorroza on Friday evening to take on struggling Alaves.

The visitors are currently second in the table, six points off the summit, while Alaves occupy 19th position, four points behind 17th-placed Granada on the same number of matches (26).

Match preview

Alaves are locked in a relegation fight this season, having picked up just 21 points from their 26 matches, which has left them in 19th position in the La Liga table, four points behind 17th-placed Granada.

El Glorioso have actually been present in each of the last six La Liga campaigns, finishing ninth, 14th, 11th, 16th and 16th since winning the Segunda Division in 2015-16, but they will be dropping back into the second tier unless their form improves in the final months of the campaign.

Alaves have only actually won once in the league since the start of November, which came at home to Valencia on February 13, while they will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Getafe last weekend, with Gonzalo Escalante and Edgar Mendez on the scoresheet at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Jose Luis Mendilibar's side have the second-worst away record in La Liga this term, picking up just six points from 13 matches, but they have collected 15 points at home, winning four and drawing three of their 13 games.

Alaves are without a victory over Sevilla in Spain's top flight since January 2018 - a run of eight matches - but the points were shared in a 2-2 draw at Estadio Ramon earlier this season.

Sevilla remain firmly in the race for the title this season, boasting a record of 15 wins, nine draws and two defeats from 26 matches, which has brought them 54 points and left them in second position.

As mentioned, Julen Lopetegui's side will be looking to close the gap to leaders Real Madrid to three points with a win on Friday evening, and the title challengers are actually unbeaten in Spain's top flight since losing 2-1 to Los Blancos at Bernabeu at the end of November.

Sevilla have shared the points in four of their last six in the league but were able to secure a vital three points against rivals Real Betis last weekend, running out 2-1 winners at Estadio Ramon courtesy of first-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and Munir El Haddadi.

Los Nervionenses have not won La Liga since 1946, while they have not finished higher than fourth since 2009, so second position would be a huge positive for the club, who are preparing to take on West Ham United in the next round of the Europa League.

Lopetegui's team cannot afford to take their eye off the ball in La Liga, and they have the third-best away record in Spain's top flight this term, boasting 21 points from their 13 matches, suffering just two defeats in the process - at Real Madrid and Granada.

Team News

Alaves will be missing Mamadou Loum on Friday due to the booking that the midfielder picked up against Getafe, which could open the door for Pere Pons to feature in the starting XI.

The home side have no injury concerns ahead of the match, so it would not be a surprise to see largely the same team that took to the field for the first whistle at Coliseum Alfonso Perez.

Joselu is again likely to lead the line for the relegation-threatened outfit, with Luis Rioja and Edgar Mendez featuring out wide, so Facundo Pellistri is set to start on the bench once again.

As for Sevilla, on-loan Manchester United attacker Anthony Martial has returned to training after a recent injury problem, so the Frenchman could make the bench on Friday night.

Suso will be out for the remainder of the month due to an ankle injury, while Karim Rekik and Alejandro Gomez are still out, but Erik Lamela could be fit, and Jules Kounde is back after serving a suspension.

Lucas Ocampos should also return from injury to feature in the front three, while Fernando could move forward from defence to midfield, which might see Thomas Delaney drop to the bench.

Lopetegui is expected to keep faith with Youssef En-Nesyri at centre-forward, with Jesus Corona and Ocampos featuring in the wide areas for the title challengers.

Alaves possible starting lineup:
Pacheco; Tenaglia, Laguardia, Lejeune, Duarte; Escalante, Pons, Pina; Mendez, Joselu, Rioja

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Bounou; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Acuna; Rakitic, Fernando, Jordan; Corona, En-Nesyri, Ocampos

We say: Alaves 0-1 Sevilla

It is results and not performances that are most important at this stage of the campaign, and this is a huge fixture for both sides in the context of their seasons. We are expecting a tight and cagey affair on Friday evening but believe that Sevilla's extra quality will allow them to secure a vital three points.

Previews by email