Football

Sevilla vs Lens predicted lineups: Can Ramos lead Sevilla to glory?

September 20, 2023 1:23 pm
Sevilla vs Lens predicted lineups: Can Ramos lead Sevilla to glory?
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Sevilla face Lens on Wednesday night in the opening game of Group B in the UEFA Champions League. As reigning Europa League champions, Sevilla are the top seeds in Group B but after a slow start to La Liga, they are far from the favourites to qualify to the knockout stages of the Champions League. The match will take place at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium and kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 UK time.

Sevilla vs Lens predicted lineups and news

Despite the Champions League being designed to pit Europe’s best teams up against each other, the clash between Sevilla vs Lens will see 17th place in La Liga take on the bottom team in Ligue 1. It isn’t expected to be a pretty affair, although European football does team to always get the best out of Sevilla. A win for either side could give them the jolt in the arm that they both desperately need to kickstart their respective seasons.

Sevilla team news

Sevilla’s start to the season has been ugly but there is plenty of sympathy for manager, José Luis Mendilibar, due to the injury list that he is having to contend with. The majority of Mendilibar’s issues relate to his defensive unit which may go a long way to explaining why they conceded eight goals in their opening three league games of the season.

Goalkeeper, Alfonso Pastor is on the long road back from a serious injury while centre-backs Marcao (hamstring) and Tanguy Nianzou (quadriceps) are still unavailable. Marcos Acuna is another first-choice defender who is unavailable due to injury with the Argentinian left back still nursing a hamstring problem.

Sevilla’s issues at the back mean that Sergio Ramos, who returned to the club this summer despite Saudi interest, will have to start again. At 37 years of age, the Spanish legend could probably do with a rest but the circumstances mean he will have to push his legs through it for the sake of the team.

Sevilla predicted lineup

Dmitrovic, Navas, Ramos, Bade, Pedrosa, Sow, Rakitic, Lukebakio, Torres, Ocampos, En-Nesyri

Lens team news

Lens are also suffering from a mini-injury crisis with two of their key players, Jimmy Cabot and Wuiler Farinez still out with long-term acl problems. In the shorter term, they will also be without Nampalys Mendy and David Costa who are nursing a shoulder injury and thigh strain respectively. Both men are expected to return in the coming weeks but the game against Sevilla has come too soon.

Fortunately for Lens boss, Franck Haise, he can once again count on Facundo Medina who was missing from action last weekend due to a suspension. Haise is already fighting for his job after a terrible start to the Ligue 1 season which has seen his side pick up just one point from their opening five matches.

One man to keep an eye on for Lens on Wednesday night is Elye Wahi. The 20-year-old forward made a big-money move to the club from Montpellier in the summer but is yet to score a goal for his new club. Haise is expected to stick with him as his main striker and tonight could be the night that he gets underway in a Lens shirt.

Lens predicted lineup

Samba, Medina, Gradit, Danso, Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Thomasson, Machado, Fulgini, Sotoca, Wahi

Will Sergio Ramos play?

Sergio Ramos made his long-awaited second debut for Sevilla last weekend when he started at the back for their clash against Las Palmas. It was no coincidence that Ramos’ inclusion resulted in the first clean sheet of the season for Sevilla and he is expected to start once again against Lens on Wednesday night.

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