Previews
DOM 25.01.2015
Sunday sees the Estadio de Mestalla host an attractive Liga BBVA matchday 20 encounter between Valencia CF and Sevilla FC. As direct rivals in the fight for the UEFA Champions League qualification spots, it will be a crunch clash for both sides. Sevilla, who have played one game fewer and are one point better off than the home team, travel to face los che out to protect fourth place.
Team news
Valencia are without the injured Antonio Barragán and Pablo Piatti for the match, with Sofiane Feghouli – away on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Algeria – likewise unavailable. For Sevilla, Benoît Trémoulinas and José Antonio Reyes both miss out through injury, while Cameroon international Stéphane M’Bia is also involved in AFCON 2015.
Views from the dugout
"We’re never going to change our objective. Next year we want to be in the Champions League and the players who are here know that," declared Valencia boss Nuno Espírito Santo. His counterpart on the Sevilla bench, Unai Emery, discussed the significance of the game for his side: "Our motivation is the same. We maintain the same desire to be contenders, to be able to compete for fourth place and, if possible, for third. We’re really motivated."
© LALIGA - 2015