Top 4 hopefuls Sevilla will be looking to make amends for the loss to Celta Vigo when they host Espanyol and at the same time put extra pressure on rivals Athletic Bilbao.

Meanwhile, los Periquitos don’t have much to play for at the moment, although they do want to cement a place in the top half of the league standings.

Sevilla did brilliantly to overcome all their worries and mount a serious challenge for Champions League positions, with the team seriously improving their hopes with a six-match winning run in the league.

Having also defeated Real Madrid last Wednesday, los Rojiblancos were expected to extend the run against struggling Celta Vigo, but it was simply not to be.

Sevilla ended up losing the game 1-0, but remained six points behind fourth-placed Athletic Club, who were beaten at home by leaders Atletico Madrid.

Unai Emery’s side have since also suffered a narrow defeat to FC Porto in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, meaning they now face a must-win game against Espanyol.

And with Sevilla winning last three league encounters at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, they have been made 1.75 (3/4) favourites to return to winning ways.

Stephane M’Bia and Federico Fazio return from European suspension, but Denis Cheryshev and Sebastian Cristoforo remain on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Beto – Coke, Pareja, Fazio, Moreno – M’Bia, Carrico – Reyes, Rakitic, Gameiro – Bacca.

Espanyol have progressed a great deal under Javier Aguirre and they are back to being a genuine mid table side in Spanish La Liga.

With seven games to go, los Periquitos seem to have already ensured survival and they can now focus on trying to further improve their position in the standings.

Following some under par results at the start of the New Year, Espanyol have done pretty well of late, having picked up seven points from last five games and given a good account of themselves in narrow defeats to Atletico and Barcelona.

And while los Periquitos will have had more time to prepare for Sunday’s clash than Sevilla, the absence of several important players is likely to damage their chances at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Namely, Kiko Casilla, Victor Sanchez and Diego Colotto are all banned, whilst Hector Moreno is a major doubt for the Sevilla clash.

With that in mind, it is hardly surprising Espanyol are priced at 5.50 (9/2) with Coral to claim maximum points at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): German – J. Lopez, Sidnei, R. Rodriguez, Fuentes – D. Lopez, Abraham – Stuani, Pizzi, Simao – S. Garcia.