Preview: Real Zaragoza vs. Sevilla - prediction, team news, lineups

Sevilla will be aiming to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they make the trip to second-tier outfit Real Zaragoza on Thursday night.

Julen Lopetegui's side have beaten Cordoba and Andratx to advance to this stage of the competition, while Zaragoza have overcome Mensajero and Burgos to reach round three.

Match preview

Zaragoza have spent the majority of their history in Spain's top flight, playing 58 La Liga seasons in total, but they currently operate in the second tier, which has been the case since their relegation from La Liga in 2013.

Los Manos have previous when it comes to the Copa del Rey, winning the competition on six separate occasions, with their last success coming back in 2004, while they have also been present in another five finals.

Last term, Zaragoza only reached the second round, but they made the round of 16 in 2019-20 and will be looking to cause an upset to progress in this season's competition.

Juan Ignacio Martinez's side recorded a 1-0 win over Mensajero in the first round of the competition on December 1 before booking their spot in round three courtesy of a two-goal success over Burgos.

The home side will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 defeat at Mirandes in the league on January 2, though, with the result leaving them in 16th position in the Segunda Division.

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Sevilla, meanwhile, have won the Copa del Rey on five occasions - the last of which was in 2010 - while they reached the final of the 2017-18 competition, suffering a 5-0 defeat to Barcelona in Madrid.

Lopetegui's side, who have beaten Cordoba and Andratx to advance to the third round of this season's competition, will enter Thursday's fixture off the back of a 1-0 victory at Cadiz on Monday, with Lucas Ocampos scoring the only goal of the contest in the second period.

Sevilla have now won four of their last five La Liga matches to sit second in the table, five points behind leaders Real Madrid with a game in hand, and it would be fair to say that they are in a title race this season.

Los Nervionenses disappointingly failed to qualify for the last-16 stage of the Champions League, but they have dropped into the Europa League, with Dinamo Zagreb their opponents next month, and the La Liga outfit will fancy their chances of challenging for the European trophy.

The Copa del Rey is third on Sevilla's list of priorities this season, but the competition represents the chance to secure major silverware, and it would be fair to say that Lopetegui's side currently have a lot of momentum, which could help them enjoy a famous campaign.

Team News

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Zaragoza's side is expected to be similar to the one that started against Burgos in the second round of the Copa del Rey on December 14, with Ivan Azon expected to lead the line in a 4-3-3 formation.

There will be a number of changes from the side that started in the league on Sunday, with Angel Lopez, Adrian, Borja Sainz and Alberto Zapater all likely to be handed opportunities to impress.

As for Sevilla, head coach Lopetegui will make wholesale changes from the side that started against Cadiz in the league, with Munir El Haddadi, Oliver Torres and Oussama Idrissi all in line to feature.

There should also be positions in the side for Marko Dmitrovic between the sticks and 18-year-old Juanlu at right-back, but there should still be midfield experience in the shape of Ivan Rakitic and Joan Jordan.

Jules Kounde will be available after serving a suspension, but the Frenchman is unlikely to be involved, while Youssef En-Nesyri, Suso, Erik Lamela and Jesus Navas will miss the contest.

There could also be a spot in the side for 20-year-old attacker Ivan Romero, who played 71 minutes of the victory over Cadiz on Monday night.

Real Zaragoza possible starting lineup:
Raton; A Lopez, L Lopez, Clemente, Nieto; Zapater, Eguaras, Adrian; Yanis, Azon, Sainz

Sevilla possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; Juanlu, Gudelj, Rekik, Augustinsson; Rakitic, Jordan, Torres; El Haddadi, Romero, Idrissi

We say: Real Zaragoza 0-2 Sevilla

Zaragoza are more than capable of overcoming what is expected to be a second-string Sevilla outfit, but the visitors will still be full of quality, and we fancy the La Liga club to advance to the next round of the competition in routine fashion.

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