Real Madrid and Sevilla meet at the Santiago Bernabéu as part of Matchweek 17 of La Liga in a game that pits the club’s historical dominance against a stretch of instability that still hangs over the hosts. Madrid come in riding two straight wins, but the atmosphere remains far from calm.
Pressure on Xabi Alonso hasn’t eased, fueled by performances that failed to fully convince and, above all, by the unexpected struggle to eliminate Talavera in the Copa del Rey earlier this week. Sevilla, meanwhile, arrive in Madrid looking to respond after another elimination, this time against Alavés, while navigating a recent run defined by uneven results.
Real Madrid take the field knowing a win is needed to keep talk of turbulence from growing louder, especially after last round’s 2–0 home loss to Celta de Vigo in La Liga. Sevilla see the match as a chance to regroup on the road, even against an opponent that has historically caused them serious trouble.
Real Madrid arrive as favorites, but under pressure
The head to head numbers strongly favor Real Madrid. The club hasn’t lost to Sevilla in La Liga in 13 matches, with 11 wins and two draws since September 2018, the longest unbeaten run against the Andalusians this century. At the Bernabéu, the control is even clearer. Madrid are unbeaten in their last 16 home league games against Sevilla, with 15 wins and one draw since December 2008, a streak that could be extended this weekend.
Even so, recent results prevent any real sense of comfort. Real Madrid lost their last home La Liga match, falling 2–0 to Celta de Vigo and snapping a run of ten straight home wins in the competition. The club hasn’t suffered back to back home defeats in La Liga since March 2019, a fact that only increases the demand for an immediate response in front of their fans.
Sevilla look to bounce back after elimination amid inconsistency
Sevilla head to the Spanish capital in an uneven moment. The team has alternated wins and losses in recent weeks and is coming off a Copa del Rey exit against Alavés, a result that added to the feeling of frustration. The need to recover is clear, even if the challenge is one of the toughest in the league.
Despite their largely unfavorable history against Real Madrid, Sevilla do carry a recent stat worth noting. The team has been unbeaten in three of its last four away matches against Madrid based clubs in La Liga, a similar return to what they managed across their previous 11 away games against those opponents combined. Even so, the Bernabéu remains an obstacle of a completely different level.