Sevilla will open their 2021-22 La Liga campaign at home against a newly promoted Rayo Vallecano at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday with kickoff at 23:15.
Sevilla opened their last campaign hoping for another top four finish having finished 4th in their 2019-20 campaign and despite, having had a mixed start last season Sevilla found their pace and broke into the top four by December.
Los Hispalenses now head into the new season with the same aim of finishing in the top four to enjoy another term with continental football having impressed in the Champions League last season.
Indeed, Sevilla will be keen to establish themselves in the top four once again evidenced by their pre-season unbeaten run, where they recorded wins over Coventry (4-0) and Las Palmas (1-0) and draws against PSG (2-2) and Roma (0-0).
Sevilla will fancy their chances here since they have not lost to Vallecano in their last nine encounters with Los Hispalenses playing at home.
Meanwhile Rayo Vallecano earned their promotion back to La Liga after winning the Segunda Division playoffs last year. Rayo also had a mixed season generally from their start to finish but eventually finished in the 6th spot to a earn a spot in the promotion playoffs.
Rayo Vallecano edged Leganes 5-1 on aggregate in the promotion playoffs semifinal to book a place in the final with Girona. Andoni Iraola’s side won the final fighting from behind as Girona edged them 2-1 in the first leg but goals from Alvaro Garcia and Oscar Trejo in the second leg saw them overturn the deficit to make a return to the top-tier.
Los Vallecanos head into the new campaign with the aim of surviving in the top-tier as they look to establish themselves in La Liga for a long time, however, they will have their work cut out for them as they face Sevilla in the opener.
Sevilla vs Rayo Vallecano head to head
Both sides have met 30 times since 1993 with Sevilla being the better side with 19 victories while Vallecano have only claimed six victories and five matches ended in draw. During the last 15 meetings with Sevilla playing at home, Sevilla have won 13 times while Vallecano have won only once with one draw.
- Sevilla 5-0 Vallecano 25/04/19
- Vallecano 1-4 Sevilla 19/08/18
- Vallecano 2-2 Sevilla 21/02/16
- Sevilla 3-2 Vallecano 26/09/15
- Sevilla 2-0 Vallecano 26/04/15
Home
- Roma 0-0 Sevilla
- Sevilla 2-2 PSG
- Sevilla 1-0 Las Palmas
- Sevilla 4-0 Coventry
- Sevilla 1-0 Alaves
Away
- Leganes 4-3 Vallecano (AP)
- Valladolid 3-1 Vallecano
- Espanyol 0-2 Vallecano
- Girona 0-2 Vallecano
- Vallecano 1-2 Girona
Sevilla team news
Sevilla will be without Oliver Torres who has a muscle problem while Luuk de Jong will be out with a knee injury.
Rayo Vallecano team news
Vallecano will also be without the services of two player including Randy Nteka with a muscle injury and Esteban Saveljich with an ankle problem.
Prediction and odds
- Sevilla win
- Goals under 3.5
- Both teams to score(no)
