Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Sevilla will look to bounce back from an unexpected 2-1 loss to Osasuna when they take on Valladolid in their first home game of the season. Los Sevillanos aim to get back on course as soon as possible, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at La Pucela. Rafa Mir, who opened his goal-scoring account at the weekend, should continue to lead the line for the hosts, while there are no fresh injury worries in the home team.
Valladolid, on the other hand, experienced all sorts of problems at the back in a 3-0 loss to Villarreal, which is probably the main reason why home win should be considered. Israel international Shon Weissman remains in the recovery room, but he should be the only absentee in the away team. Anyhow, we are tempted to put our money on Julen Lopetegui’s men, who have turned their Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan into a real fortress.
Highlighted Player (Marko Dmitrovic):
A Red Star Belgrade youth prospect, Serbian goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic never got a chance to shine at his boyhood club. The talented shot-stopper was forced to take a longer road to prominence and travelled through Hungary, England and Spain to find his place under the sun. Spells with Ujpest, Charlton Athletic and Alcoron brought nothing but disappointment for the Serbia ‘keeper, who rose to full prominence at Eibar.
Dmitrovic was voted the best player of Eibar for the 2017/18 season after not missing a single league appearance for Los Armeros. Apart from his footballing exploits, Marko Dmitrovic remains remembered for saving Angel Rodriguez Diaz’s life in a game against Getafe.
Dmitrovic was the one to unintentionally knock Angel to the ground after a duel in the box and was also the first one to pull his tongue out when it became apparent that Angel was lying still on the ground. Marko Dmitrovic is Serbia’s second choice goalkeeper who made his debut in 2017. The Eibar custodian was part of Serbia’s World Cup expedition in Russia but did not get a chance in goal with Vladimir Stojkovic being favoured between the sticks.
Highlighted Team (Valladolid):
Real Valladolid is a Spanish club based in Valladolid, the part of the autonomous community of Castille and Leon. Founded in 1928, Real Valladolid play their home matches at Jose Zorilla, the venue that has the capacity 26,512. La Pucela have yet to win the La Liga title, but it is important to note that they finished fourth at the end of the 1962/1963 season.
Real Valladolid made it to the Spanish Cup final on two occasions (1949/1950, 1988/1989). In 1984 they won Copa de la Liga (League Cup), which is considered the team’s biggest success. Speaking of their European records, Real Valladolid participated in the 1989/1990 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finals.
La Pucela are well known for their purple and white shirts, but they are known for some top-class footballers as well. The likes of Diego Costa, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Borja Fernandez, Rene Higuita, Luis Garcia and Aritz Aduriz played for Real Valladolid in the past.