Sevilla take on Atletico Bilbao today hoping to continue their excellent run after qualifying for the group stages in the UEFA cup this week.

Sevilla are currently sitting 5th and a win today could see them jump into the Champions League zone depending on other results. Athletico, on the other hand, are 12th and a win could see them edge closer for a UEFA spot. But is that what we're talking about? A possible Champions League candidate facing a UEFA Cup one? I think not, Athletico still have a lot to prove yet. 

After Sevilla's performance mid week they'll be firing on full cylinders and don't look to have any major injury problems. Jimenez has stated that 'Athletic are a young and brave team, with a nourished quarry (I guess that means a determined squad, he's a poet but doesn't know it) and this has a lot of merit. They're a rival in the danger zone because they haven't been able to win many games at home,' and also away by the looks of things.

Athletico haven't won at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán for fifteen years, is it time to put an end to their drought? They are still without Joseba Etxeberría due to a twisted ankle and Joaquín Caparrós, manager, is going to introduce three changes to last weeks team who lost at home to Getafe: Garmendia, Muñoz and Lafuente and he's leaving out Del Olmo and Armando.

Prediction? I think it'll be a comfortable win for the Sevillistas against the Lions. 2 v 0 with Kanoute and Capel on the score sheet. The Lions will be leaving hungry and frustrated after a cagey performance.

I'm obviusly not talking about the recent form of Atletico, they've started the year with more passion and strentgh than any other year, but no they start their run of Sevilla, Barca, Real Madrid and Villarreal and will be without a few of their key players.

Atleticos Options 

Sergio Aguero is fit, but Javier Aguirre, Manager of Atletico, has admitted he isn't 100% and could do with a rest, 'He's going to go out for the 90 minutes, but if there's a chance to give him a rest and change him then we will it all depends on how the game goes.' They'll definitely need to keep him fit because at the moment Atletico are without Heitinga, Simao, Forlán y Maniche. The question is do they have the squad expansive enough to get through these difficult moments?

Sevillas Options 

Sevilla, on the other hand, are without a few players but the key ones reamain intact, they'll be without Renato, Acosta, Escudé y Mosquera, but this shouldn't be a huge problem, they've still got Capel, Kanoute, Fabiano, and also new boy Chevaton who has made a decent impact so far.

Manolo Jimenez, manager for Sevilla, knows he's up against a grand team tonight in Madrid 'For me Atletico can challenge for all competitions, this is a game to get stuck in. We've got the capacity to harm them in their stadium and we need to demonstrate that we can fight as hard as them.'

When Juan de Ramos left Sevilla in the lurch last year and in stepped the 'B' team manager Jimenez, no one gave him the time of day and had written him off before he'd even stepped into the changing rooms. But I've got to say that he's got some cojones (balls); it's taken him a while to turn the team round but he's done it and shows his determination 'For this we always want to win, we weren't happy with a draw at Betis or Racing we want to win everything,' he said demonstrating a similar passion to their Director Del Nido. 

What's going to happen? 

Even though Atletico are at home I think they might come unstuck without their key players, it will be a close game but I think Sevilla might edge it by one goal or it will be a draw.

1 V 1 OR 2 V 1 to Sevilla.

Betis v Sevilla 16.00 - 21/9/08

Del Nido, as usual, has been causing a bit of a stir in the Andalucian capital ahead of the first derby of the season. He's told his players that '100% isn't enough and anyone who doesn't put in more effort won't be playing.' Too harsh? How does he know that before the game anyway? Surely they'll all be up for it? 

Or will they? This year's new looking Sevilla still has to introduce several of it's players to the loco Derby that everyone in Sevilla waits for every year (I'd say most Sevillianos look forward more to these games than the Spain v Germany final). It will be Squillaci and Konko's first appearances against arch rivals Betis, will they be able to stand up to the pressure.

Sergio Garcia, Betis's new striker, is well up for the clash. It's his first derby and is confident that his side can give a little surprise to Del Nido's side 'Sevilla have a great squad, but the players they have lost were key players and you can see the difference.' He's got some cojones (bollocks) to say that before a Derby.

I must be honest, after living in Sevilla for three years and watching several Derby matches, they never really do it for me, yeah the atmosphere is buzzing in the bars (it's all clean fun, no scrapping or fighting like you might get in North London or in Manchester), but the games always lack that extra bit of umph. Last year Sevilla did the dirty double over Betis winning 3 v 0 at home and 2 v 0 away, but Betis lacked a bit of firepower. Let's see what Mr Loudmouth Garcia can do about it tomorrow who also said that 'I hope I score a goal, but the result is more important.' Alright mate, don't get ahead of yourself now.

Betis aren't on their best form at the moment; they haven't won since last April and have only managed one point this year. They are also facing a difficult run of Barca, Madrid and Villareal, so they will be desperate for a point at least.

Prediction; lots of goals, Sevilla's defense has been a bit wiffy wa wa this year, its early days for the new boys, but I reckon between Capel, Fabiano and Kanoute they will probably net a couple, as will new boy Garcia for Betis. Going for a bold Betis 2 v Sevilla 3.

Del Nido agrees with me, don't you amigo?

 Course he does.

Sevilla may have won tonight but they were far from their best.

They beat Red Bull Salzburg 2 v 0 at home in the first leg of the UEFA cup thanks to a goal from Capel after 5 mins and a late finisher from Adriano on 91, which was possibly offside.

But the Andalucia Kings weren't really flying like they will be this Sunday against their arch rivals Betis. It's the first big derby of the year when the capital of Andalucia, Sevilla, goes crazy; trust me I live here and it goes bonkers all weekend.

In a game where neither Kanuote, Maresca or Adriano started, what was to be expected? Jimenez was blatantly thinking about the weekend's game and this was just a kick about.

Other results from tonight went all Spain's way apart from Deportivo, who lost 2 v 0 against Brann Bergen. Valencia won away 1 v 0 against Maritimo, and Racing won 1 v 0 at home to Honka Espoo poo.

So it's back to La Liga this weekend, keep your eyes open for the Derby, and maybe Barcelona will get a result, or not?