Real Betis vs Sevilla - Pepe Mel urges Real Betis to focus on league derby against Sevilla

Real Betis head coach Pepe Mel wants his players to focus on one derby at a time as they prepare to tackle Sevilla, having also been drawn with their rivals in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

By chance, there will be no fewer than three local showdowns in the knockout competition, which continues at the start of January.

Holders Barcelona will face city rivals Espanyol, while Rayo Vallecano are set to host Atletico Madrid with the Andalucian duo also paired to clash.

Mel, though, warned the impending cup double-header should not distract from the job in hand on Saturday night.

He said on his club's official website: "We focus on what is in front of us in the next 24 hours, all the rest will come after.

"I do not know if it is the best draw, what is true is that we have an important game tomorrow. Our focus has to be on that clash, the other will come in January and we will prepare for it then.

"The most troubling thing is how we will schedule the cup tie, because we already play (in the league) on Monday January 4 against Eibar, so it will be very difficult for us to then play again afterwards on January 6, so they will have to move the (cup) game.

"However, only 24 hours ahead of such an important game in the league, the cup does not worry us."

Winger Joaquin and defender Cristiano Piccini are, along with striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel, injury concerns for Betis, who will have both defender Bruno Gonzalez and midfielder Dani Ceballos available again following suspension.

Mel wants his team to focus on their own performances and not get swept away in the occasion at Estadio Benito Villamarin.

"I have seen it all," the former Tenerife and West Brom manager said, now in his second stint at Betis. "The important thing is to be strong, play the game.

"Derbies are unpredictable, and it will be all about who can handle the pressure in such an exceptional environment, which is where you will see those who deserve to be called great."

Sevilla come into the clash against their rivals on the back of three straight wins, which started against Juventus in the Champions League.

However, Unai Emery's side have yet to win away from home in the Primera Division, where they are currently seventh.

Betis, meanwhile, have lost only one of their last five games, but have not won in the last two league matches.

Emery also called for calm heads from his visiting squad, who have midfielder Vicente Iborra available again after suspension,

"We are very focused on the game, and on what we have to do in each moment," he said on his club's website.

"In a game of this size, the ranking (of the two teams in the league) does not matter, because it will be about which has the ability to do things on the occasion.

"We will need to apply the things which are working in the team if we are to get all three points."