Sevilla vs Real Betis preview - Michel up for challenge

Sevilla will aim to rekindle their slim European hopes and in the process put one over neighbouring Real Betis when the two arch rivals meet at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan for the first time since 2009.

Michel's men have picked up just four points from their last five matches and Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid left them three points behind sixth-placed Atletico Madrid with only three games remaining.

It is now a tall order for Sevilla, who won the UEFA Cup in 2006 and 2007, to get back into Europe next season but Michel is determined to ensure his side continue to give their all regardless.

"We've been inconsistent so we need to be aggressive and take charge. We're facing a derby and that's all you need to say," he said.

"We need the points. Victory is very important for the standings and for the season, as well as the fact we are facing our age-old rivals."

Promoted Betis go into the match on the back of a dramatic 2-2 draw with Atletico at the weekend, which saw Pepe Mel's men net twice in the last four minutes to overturn a 1-0 deficit only to concede an equaliser with the last action of the match.

That left Betis nine points above the bottom three and, with their relegation fears now all but banished, striker Roque Santa Cruz believes the pressure is on Sevilla.

When asked who he thought were favourites, Santa Cruz told AS: "That's of little importance in these types of games. Those who go in as favourites don't always get the victory. What you need to do is win.

"If it wasn't a derby, the fans would give much more importance to the league placings of each team, but this is a different fixture. We've achieved our objective and they still haven't. For this I think that they are under more pressure to win."