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- 🇪🇸 Seville Derby & Trent to Madrid? 👋🏼
🇪🇸 Seville Derby & Trent to Madrid? 👋🏼
Join us as we preview El Gran Derbi and discuss some of the biggest player transfer stories breaking ahead of the Summer transfer window...
George Hudson
March 26, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
🇪🇸 Seville Derby & Trent to Madrid? 👋🏼
With the March international break finally finished, we can resume our normal programming. This week we’re focusing on the Andalusian capital, Seville, to preview one of the most historic and fierce rivalries in football.
We’ve also got the latest transfer news from around the world of football and some stats on penalties featuring a certain C. Ronaldo.
Today's game plan:
Real Betis vs Sevilla | Sunday | 20:00 BST
The Seville derby is known as "El Gran Derbi" in Spain - the big one. It’s one of the most passionate and historic rivalries in world football, let alone Spain. This match draws a line down the middle of the Andalusian capital as Seville’s two teams and their fans come face to face.
The Seville derby dates back to the early 20th century, with the first recorded game taking place in 1915, ending in a 1-nil win for Sevilla. That first win for Sevilla set the tone for how the rivalry has played-out since, with Sevilla unbeaten in 70% of the games played against Betis. In their last 5 meetings, there have been 3 draws and 2 wins for Sevilla.
Real Betis | Sevilla |
|---|---|
1x La Liga Champions (1934/35) 3x Copa del Rey winners | 1x La Liga Champions (1945/46) 5x Copa del Rey winners 6x UEFA Cup / Europa League (record holders) 1x UEFA Super Cup |
Both teams have won major titles and cups in their history, but Sevilla come out on top here with their record 6 Europa League wins being particularly impressive.
Form & Team News
Betis are going into this fixture in excellent form. Legendary manager Manuel Pellegrini has worked his tactical expertise this season, building a team that combine defensive organisation with fast and incisive attacking play. Betis currently sit in 6th place in La Liga, on track to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
Betis have won 4 of their last 5 matches across all competitions, with the one draw coming in the first leg of their Europa Conference League round of 16 tie against Vitoria. In their last game out, Betis took a thrilling 3-2 away victory against Leganés, underlining their attacking prowess. Betis registered their 38th league goal against Leganes —which is more than any other team outside the top five has scored this season.
Betis have been particularly dominant at home, with seven wins, five draws, and only two defeats. Pellegrini will therefore be confident his side can get a result at the Estadio Villamarín.
Betis have a number of injury doubts for the game including Giovani Lo Celso and Marc Roca. Keep an eye out for ex-Real Madrid attacking midfielder, Isco, in the number 10 position, top quality technician.
GR Real Betis predicted lineup | Adrian, Sabaly, Llorente, Natan, Perraud, Fornals, Altimira, Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli, Hernández
Sevilla are going into the game in search of consistency. They currently sit 10th in La Liga with 36 points after a disappointing season. García Pimienta’s team have recorded two wins, two draws, and one defeat in their last five outings.
Their most recent match saw them fall to a sorry 1-nil home defeat to Athletic Bilbao. Under Pimienta, Sevilla have struggled to find stability and consistency, particularly away from home where they have only managed four wins, whilst they have drawn and lost 5-times-apiece. Defensive frailties are a major concern, and the team has conceded 37 goals so far this season.
Sevilla’s manager and fans will be hoping the intensity of the rivalry can bring a performance out of a team that is looking weary, and already looking ahead to next season.
Sevilla will be without Nemanja Gudelj who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, and Tanguy Nianzou is a doubt after picking up a thigh injury. Pimienta will also have to deal with neither of his first-choice central midfielders being available —Djibril Sow and Lucien Agoumé who are both suspended after picking up yellow cards in the loss against Atletic Bilbao.
GR Sevilla predicted lineup | Nyland, Pedrosa, Badé, Carmona, Salas, Ñíguez, Adams, Lokonga, Lukebakio, Ejuke, Romero
This Week’s Shocker…
Cristiano Ronaldo’s took one of the worst penalties of his career in Portugal’s Nation League quarter-final against Denmark.
The miss against Denmark was Ronaldo’s 32nd miss from the penalty spot in his career. Now on 32, Ronaldo moves ahead of Messi (31) in terms of penalty misses. Despite the misses, Ronaldo has a career conversion rate of 84.4% from the penalty spot.
Around the world…
Germany and Leverkusen starlet Wirtz who is 21 years-old is stalling on signing a new deal with Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz is currently under contract until 2027 but new contract negotiations are currently at a standstill, with Wirtz interested in exploring his options, including Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Leverkusen have stated they are only willing to talk to clubs that meet a transfer fee of at least €120 million euros plus additional bonus payments.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has reached an agreement with Real Madrid on a 5-year deal that will see him leave Liverpool as a free agent. Currently 26 years-old, Trent will reportedly earn around €15 million per season, and get a signing bonus that is comparable to a ‘reasonable transfer fee‘.
Barcelona’s hierarchy looks likely to sell Hansi Flick’s first-choice right back in order to raise funds. 26-year-old Kounde hasn’t signed a new deal with the Catalan club and with his current deal expiring in 2027, Barcelona’s board are likely to cash in during the summer transfer.
On Monday evening, France’s U21 team beat Slovakia 4-nil with braces for 2 players. Mathys Tel, the Bayern Munich youngster who is currently on loan at Tottenham scored two goals in the first half. Then in the second half, Arnaud Kalimuendo added another 2 goals for the French. Kalimuendo plays for and has scored 12 goals for his club so far this season. With a lack of classic centre-forwards in the game, remember this Kalimuendo kid’s name.
After beating Greece 1-nil away from home in the first leg, Steve Clarke's Scotland lose 3-0 to Greece at Hampden Park to confirm relegation to Nations League B. A disappointing result for Scotland who had been on something of a resurgence under the management of Clarke.
Games to keep an eye on…
Barcelona vs Osasuna | Thursday | 20:00 GMT
Barcelona host Osasuna at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Thursday evening. The Catalan giants are aiming to maintain their position at the top of La Liga, while mid-table Osasuna will be looking for a result to take back to Pamplona. With this game taking scheduled soon after the international break, both teams will need to manage player fatigue carefully.
Bayern Munich vs St Pauli | Saturday | 14:30 GMT
Top-of-the-Bundesliga, Bayern Munich welcome St. Pauli to the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon. Bayern are dealing with injuries to goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Jonas Urbig, but newly-promoted St. Pauli who sit in 15th just above the relegation zone, shouldn’t pose too much of a problem.
Brighton vs Nottingham Forest | Saturday | 17:15 GMT
Two in-form teams face-off in the FA Cup on Saturday as Brighton host Nottingham Forest at the Amex in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. This is a big match for both club and gets to the heart of what the FA Cup is all about: smaller clubs taking on the big boys at Wembley Stadium.
Nottingham Forest vs Man United | Tuesday | 20:00 BST
A big test for Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United on Tuesday April 1st. United, unbeaten in all competitions over their last seven games, will be looking to continue their improved form. Forest will be hoping that home advantage will see them through this match and keep their dream of a top 4 finish alive.
Liverpool vs Everton | Wednesday | 20:00 BST
A midweek Merseyside Derby on Wednesday April 2nd. After the disappointment of being knocked out of the Champions League by PSG, and then losing the EFL Cup final to Newcastle, Liverpool will be looking to bounce back against their city rivals.
GOAT Trivia…
Say congrats to…
Mikel Arteta [@m8arteta], the Arsenal manager turns 43 today.
On this day in football…
On 26th March 2008, David Beckham won his 100th England cap aged 32. Beckham wore golden boots in the friendly against France, playing on his other nickname ‘Golden balls‘. The game itself was disappointing, ending in a 1-0 win for France from a Franck Ribery penalty in the 30th minute.
At the time, Beckham became the fifth England centurion after Billy Wright, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Peter Shilton. Beckham finished his international career with 115 caps.
Goal of the week…
Our goal of the week is from the Spain Netherlands game in the Nations League. There were a few good goals in this game, with Ian Maatsen banging one in to level the game at 2-2, but the goal of the game has to be Lamine Yamal’s touch and finish. Trademark Yamal finish.
