Sevilla vs Real Madrid - Sevilla braced for 'demanding' LaLiga clash with Real Madrid

Posted Saturday, January 14, 2017 by PA

Sevilla can make a move to gatecrash the LaLiga title race on Sunday but to do so they must end Real Madrid's record-breaking unbeaten run.

And the match will also feature plenty of sub-plots following the Copa del Rey clash between the teams earlier this week.

Victory at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan would see Sevilla move to within a point of Madrid at the top of the table, with Jorge Sampaoli's completely overhauled team having quickly found their chemistry.

Madrid have not lost since April 2016 - a run of 40 matches - but Sevilla came as close as anyone in midweek when Madrid needed a stoppage-time strike from Karim Benzema to salvage a 3-3 draw in the second leg, advancing 6-3 on aggregate.

That performance has left Sampaoli in bullish mood as he looks to make Sunday's game "unbearable" for the visitors.

"We know the game will not be the same (as the Copa clash) because Real Madrid will learn from what happened on Thursday when we almost won," he said. "Tomorrow will be more demanding for us, but I hope we have the same willingness to go at them from the start and make the game unbearable for Real Madrid, knowing all our fans will be very motivated."

Stevan Jovetic could start after scoring on his debut on Thursday, when he came on just before half-time.

There was controversy after Thursday's match, in which former Sevilla defender Sergio Ramos scored a 'Panenka' penalty against his old club before upsetting home fans with his celebrations as he cupped his ears in front of them.

Sevilla have complained to the RFEF, Spain's national football federation, about the incident, while Madrid retorted with a statement defending their player, saying their captain "now represents a benchmark in values for all fans of football and sport in general".

The issue is unlikely to have been forgotten in time for kick-off, but Sampaoli sought to draw a line under it.

"I do not think scoring a Panenka penalty is disrespectful," he said. "He is someone from here. I hope both parties can reconcile."

Benzema's late goal saw Madrid surpass Barcelona's record of 39 games unbeaten by a Spanish team, set last season. They have won 31 and drawn nine to move level with English club Nottingham Forest's achievement from 1978.

They still have work to do to pass the marks of two Italian clubs - AC Milan's 42-match run from 1992/93 and Juventus' 43-match run from 2011/12.

Coach Zinedine Zidane admitted his side had been given a thorough test in the Copa clash, and expects more of the same on Sunday.

"Our plan is to keep the ball, but Sevilla will make life hard for us," Zidane said. "We'll have to wait and see how it pans out, but they'll definitely make it difficult and we'll have to dig deep, but they will as well. The crucial thing is that we show our hunger, character and give it everything we've got."

Cristiano Ronaldo was rested in midweek, but Zidane said the Portugal star would return this weekend.

"He's back in the team and he's looking good," he said. "He's worked hard this week and had a rest day on Thursday. He's absolutely fine."