Match Pack: Athletic Club vs Sevilla FC (LaLiga MD31)

Fully immersed in this final stretch of the season, Athletic Club still have a chance of qualifying for European football. After three consecutive wins, and with eight league games left, the Lions are only one win behind those immediately above us in the LaLiga Santander table.

This Thursday night, San Mamés hosts a Sevilla FC side on the hunt for an incredible seventh UEFA Europa League triumph. That being said, the side now coached by José Luis Mendilibar have been inconsistent in LaLiga for most of this term - they remain a long way off the European places and the threat of being dragged into the relegation battle still looms large for the Andalusians.

Match Info
Athletic Club vs Sevilla FC

San Mames (Bilbao)

LaLiga Santander 22/23 (Matchday 31)

Thursday April 27, 22:00 CEST

How to Watch
Check out our global TV guide to make sure you don't miss the match, no matter where you are in the world

Team News
Valverde has named a 22-man squad for the clash

Jon Morcillo, Iker Muniain and Iñigo Martínez, who suffered a calf strain this week, are all sidelined with their respective injuries, while Mikel Vesga and Oier Zarraga are serving one-match bans after reaching five yellow cards.

Dani García is back after being suspended for the win over UD Almería and Bilbao Athletic midfielder Unai Gómez,19, makes the list for the first time.

Valverde's Comments
Catch up with what the gaffer had to say ahead of the clash

The Opponents

Head coach: Jose Luis Mendilibar

A former Athletic head coach, Mendilibar - Sevilla's third manager of the season - took over from Jorge Sampaoli a month ago. The Andalusians were just two points above the drop zone, but the Basque tactician has managed to steer the side into safer waters with three wins and a draw from his first four matches in charge.

Renowned for his high-pressing style, Mendilibar is most well known for his six-season spell at SD Eibar from 2015-2021, his second stint with Los Armeros. He started his coaching career with Athletic's youth sides in 1997 and has led a range of top clubs since including: Athletic Club, Real Valladolid, CA Osasuna, UD Levante and Alavés.

Top goalscorer: Youssef En-Nesyri

The Morrocan international striker joined Sevilla from Leganés during the winter transfer widow in 2020. En-Nesyri has eight goals from 26 appearances so far this season, three of them coming since Mendilibar's arrival.

Youssef, 25, was one of the Atlas Lions' star players at the recent World Cup, making eight appearances and scoring three goals, including the winner over Portugal in the quarter-finals, as they made an unexpected and historic run to the semi-finals.

Recent form (LaLiga): LWDWW

A poor start to the season meant Sevilla did not pick up their first LaLiga win of 2022/23 until their fifth fixture. Results improved but were inconsistent, with the Sevillanos only once winning back-to-back matches until Mendilibar took over.

Things are now looking up for the club. A four-match unbeatean streak in LaLiga aside, the Andalusians also reached the Europa League semi-finals after knocking out Manchester United in the last eight.

Previous Meetings
Since their first LaLiga clash in the 1934/35 season, Athletic Club and Sevilla have played a total of 157 LaLiga matches against each other, with the Zurigorri registering 61 wins, 31 draws and 65 defeats.

In terms of matches played at San Mamés, the overall record is in the Lions' favour with 50 wins, 10 draws and 18 defeats.

The last five meetings between the two sides at The Cathedral have produced three victories and two defeats for Los Leones.

In this season's reverse fixture in Seville, the Andalusians went ahead before Mikel Vesga equalised to earn Athletic a point.