(Football news) With 10 LaLiga Santander games remaining, one would anticipate a matchup between Valencia CF and Sevilla FC to be a contest where both teams fight for a place in Europe. However, the matchup this Sunday between these two storied clubs and previous Spanish champions will feature the team currently in 18th place with 27 points and the squad in 13th place with 32 points.

Right now, avoiding relegation is the top objective for the fan bases in Valencia and Seville. Valencia CF and Sevilla FC haven’t competed at the LaLiga SmartBank level since 1987 and 2001 respectively. It is crucial that these clubs continue to exist since doing so would enable them to recover and rise once more.

Remember that two teams that have appeared in several European championships throughout the years will be squaring off in Sunday’s game at Mestalla. Sevilla FC has the record for most Europa League championships, and Los Che have competed in seven major European finals, including back-to-back Champions League finals.

Rubén Baraja, a former captain of Valencia CF who was a part of the squad that came near to winning LaLiga Santander championships in 2001/02 and 2003/04, has rejoined the organisation this time in the capacity of coach. His mission is to assist Los Che in recovering and avoiding relegation.

Baraja has guided Valencia CF to two of their six home triumphs so far this season. Valencia CF is the youngest team in LaLiga Santander, with an average age of 24.9. In fact, Baraja’s team is undefeated at Mestalla, where they have beaten Real Sociedad, CA Osasuna, and Rayo Vallecano by a combined score of 1-0, drawn 1-1, and defeated them by the same margin against both teams.

The relegation six-pointer on Sunday will have another electrifying atmosphere, but Sevilla FC will want to win away from home because they also need all three points. Los Nervionenses are involved in one of the most thrilling relegation battles in recent memory and are only five points above the relegation zone. Sevilla FC hired former SD Eibar coach José Luis Mendilibar after parting ways with Jorge Sampaoli in March in an effort to find some much-needed consistency in the remaining games of the season.

In his debut, Mendilibar steered his team to a 2-0 victory over Cádiz CF, their first victory away from home since October, and their first clean sheet in six LaLiga Santander contests. In his second match in charge, Sevilla FC grabbed a two-goal lead over RC Celta at home while down to ten players, but the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Close matches between Valencia CF and Sevilla FC at Mestalla

Three of the last four meetings between Sevilla FC and Mestalla have ended in 1-1 draws. One of those games, in 2018/19, was a nail-biter in which the hosts needed a late equaliser from Mouctar Diakhaby to save a point.

Valencia CF’s last victory at Mestalla dates back to 2017, when they easily defeated the reigning Europa League champions with a 4-0 victory thanks to goals from Simone Zaza and Santi Mina, as well as a brace from Gonçalo Guedes. Valencia CF has lost all eight of their games against Sevilla FC, whether they have played at home or on the road.

The battles Mendilibar had with Valencia CF

The fact that Los Che are playing a coach who has lost 12 of his 25 games against Valencia CF is excellent news for them. Valencia CF has celebrated more victories over the new Los Nervionenses manager than any other team save FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and Athletic Club.

In their head-to-head matches, Mendilibar has guided Baraja the player to one victory and two losses. However, the first occasion the two men competed against one another as coaches was in the 2018–19 Copa del Rey round of 32, when Real Sporting de Gijón of Baraja upset SD Eibar of Mendilibar.

This Sunday, there is much more on the line than simply bettering their head-to-head records, as Valencia CF will try to extend their three-game home winning streak in their quest for safety and Sevilla FC will take the field at the Mestalla hoping to turn things around and gain momentum before the season’s final stretch.

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