Sevilla v Real Madrid: Line-ups, stats and preview

Preview for Sevilla v Real Madrid

Sevilla boss Joaquin Caparros described Carlo Ancelotti as a “world leader” as he plots the downfall of the outgoing Real Madrid coach at the weekend.

Ancelotti will oversee a Madrid away game for the final time on Sunday before bringing the curtain down on his second spell in charge in next weekend’s home game with Real Sociedad.

The Italian will then take over the Brazil national side and attempt to guide them to World Cup glory next summer.

It’s a great move for Ancelotti – and most likely for Madrid with Xabi Alonso poised to take over – but Caparros thinks it will be a major loss for La Liga.

He said: “Carlo is a world leader. When players like Sergio Ramos, Lionel Messi or Cristiano [Ronaldo] leave La Liga loses value, and with the departure of Carlo it also loses value because he is a reference for all coaches.

“Because of his behaviour at press conferences, because of how he says the right things inside the club… You have to know how to win and lose, all coaches must listen to Ancelotti.”

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Ancelotti will leave Madrid on the back of a trophyless season. Even though his side beat Real Mallorca on Wednesday, Barcelona’s win over Espanyol last night meant the title is heading back to Catalonia.

Madrid are also riddled with injuries to key players but Caparros, who is now contemplating his own future after being parachuted in on a short-term deal to save Sevilla, is not underestimating Los Blancos, adding: “We want to give joy to the fans, but Madrid is Madrid. 

“It has a DNA that the players who put on that shirt know they have to win and give 100 percent. But let’s hope to play a good game and give a good image. Then in the end we are all happy.”

It has not been an easy time for Sevilla over recent weeks.

Last Saturday’s defeat at 10-man Celta Vigo was followed by fans storming the training ground and forcing the players to sleep at the José Ramón Cisneros Palacios complex.

The midweek win over Las Palmas eased the pressure, however, with top-flight safety now secured.

Caparros added: “There was a magnificent atmosphere aginst Las Palmas and that says a lot about a club like ours. 

“The fans have been with the team despite the chance of relegation.”