Sevilla FC - Rayo Vallecano: a new chapter begins in Nervión
The new LaLiga season for Sevilla FC and Rayo Vallecano begins with a direct encounter at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. The hosts enter the league after a summer of major changes and with Luis García Plaza on the bench, while Rayo also have a new coach - Beñat San José. The ball gets rolling at 21:30, and this is the first round of the 2026/2027 season.
This is a match in which the table does not say anything yet: both clubs have zero points and everything starts from scratch. The context from the previous season nevertheless provides a good framework. Rayo Vallecano finished eighth with 50 points, while Sevilla were 13th with 43 points. Rayo also had a long European season that took them all the way to the final in Leipzig, where Crystal Palace won 1-0.
For Sevilla, the start of the new season is an opportunity to end a period in which the club too often had to look towards the lower part of the table. Rayo, on the other hand, are trying to confirm that last season's result was not just one successful campaign.
Ticket sales for this match are underway. For fans who want to be in the stands at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, this is the first opportunity of the new season to see how much the two teams have changed over the summer.
Sevilla change their squad and begin with Luis García Plaza
Luis García Plaza took over Sevilla FC with a contract until the summer of 2027 and was given the task of shaping a team that underwent serious changes during the transfer period.
The departure of several players who had major playing time or an important role last season is particularly significant. Akor Adams, who scored 10 league goals in 2025/2026, left for Venezia FC. Djibril Sow moved to Genoa, and Juanlu Sánchez to AFC Bournemouth. This removed three familiar solutions from different lines of the team.
At the same time, new players arrived, including Jon Guridi and Arouna Sangante, while Odysseas Vlachodimos returned on loan. At the beginning of August, Sevilla also signed goalkeeper Fran González on a long-term contract.
The change is particularly noticeable in attack. Akor's 10 league goals from last season now need to be replaced by other solutions. Rubén Vargas remains an important source of creativity after six league assists last season, while Peque showed during pre-season that he could receive a significantly bigger role.
Peque scored the winner in a 1-0 victory against FC Utrecht and had previously been among the more notable players of the pre-season period. Luis García Plaza also used him in more central attacking positions, which opens up the possibility that Sevilla will not play against Rayo with a completely traditional number nine.
Another name that attracted attention is Miguel Sierra. The young striker scored the opening goal in the final pre-season match against Bayer Leverkusen on 8 August. Sevilla eventually lost 2-1 after two goals from Patrik Schick, but remained competitive against a strong opponent for most of the match.
What Sevilla's pre-season looked like
The results show a team that began to find stability after the defeat in Poland:
- KS Cracovia - Sevilla FC 1-0
- Córdoba CF - Sevilla FC 0-0, Sevilla more successful after penalties
- Sevilla FC - AD Ceuta FC 2-1
- NEC Nijmegen - Sevilla FC 1-2
- FC Utrecht - Sevilla FC 0-1
- Bayer Leverkusen - Sevilla FC 2-1
Three consecutive victories against Ceuta, NEC and Utrecht were the best part of the preparations. The defeat in Leverkusen also showed the other side: Sevilla took the lead but could not withstand the opponent's late pressure.
That is an important detail ahead of Rayo. Beñat San José's team have enough speed and players capable of attacking space as soon as the opponent loses the ball. Sevilla will therefore have to find a balance between the desire to attack from the start in front of their own fans and the need not to leave too much space behind the midfield line.
Rayo arrive with a new coach, but a well-known core
Rayo Vallecano are also opening a new era. Íñigo Pérez is no longer on the bench, and Beñat San José has taken over the job. The coach from San Sebastián has experience from Spain, Belgium, Mexico, Chile, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and before arriving in Vallecas he managed SD Eibar.
Unlike Sevilla, Rayo managed to retain a large part of their recognisable core. Augusto Batalla remains between the posts, Andrei Ratiu, Florian Lejeune and Luiz Felipe are in defence, while Isi Palazón, Álvaro García, Jorge de Frutos, Óscar Valentín, Pedro Díaz, Sergio Camello, Randy Nteka and Alemão are in midfield and attack.
The defence received another experienced option during August. Marash Kumbulla arrived on loan from AS Roma until the end of the season, while an agreement was reached with Luiz Felipe for him to stay for another year. For San José, this is important depth in central defence.
The most concrete attacking figure from last league season belongs to Jorge de Frutos. He scored 10 league goals in 36 appearances. Álvaro García recorded five assists, while Andrei Ratiu had four.
Those three illustrate well what Sevilla must control. De Frutos can finish a move, Álvaro García attacks space from the left, while Ratiu provides width and energy from the right flank. When Rayo manage to move the ball quickly towards the wings, the opposing defence has to make decisions within a few seconds.
Rayo did not choose easy opponents in pre-season
The results were mixed. Rayo lost 2-1 to Heart of Midlothian and Feyenoord, then beat Sporting Charleroi 3-2. In that victory, Nteka opened the scoring after a pass from Jorge de Frutos, Fran Pérez scored the second goal, and the decisive move came after a cross from Álvaro García.
In the final pre-season match against Ipswich Town, Rayo were defeated again. Beñat San José started with Batalla in goal, Ratiu, Pelayo, Lejeune and Balliu in defence, Óscar Valentín and Unai López in midfield, with De Frutos, Isi, Álvaro García and Nteka ahead of them.
That is no guarantee that the same line-up will start in Sevilla, but it shows the framework the coach was working with immediately before the start of the league season.
What could decide the match
For Sevilla, the natural scenario is an attempt to take the initiative. The first home league evening under a new coach carries the expectation that the team will be active, but that is precisely where Rayo can find an opportunity.
The visitors have players who thrive in a match with space. If Sevilla push their full-backs forward and lose the ball in midfield, De Frutos and Álvaro García can very quickly turn a defensive situation into an attack. Isi Palazón can additionally receive the ball between the lines and look for the final pass or a shot.
Sevilla, on the other hand, will try to find Rubén Vargas between the wide and central zones and make use of Peque's movement. If Peque is again used as a false nine or a very mobile central striker, Lejeune and the other Rayo centre-backs will not always have a traditional target to follow. Their decision on whether to step out with him can open space for players arriving from deeper positions.
Set pieces are also worth watching. Lejeune is dangerous in the penalty area, while Rayo have several players capable of delivering a quality ball from a set piece. Sevilla have also often used their centre-backs and physically strong players as targets from corners in recent seasons.
The most important tactical points can be reduced to four questions:
- Can Sevilla stop the transitions of De Frutos and Álvaro García quickly enough?
- Who will take on the role of the hosts' main finisher after the departure of Akor Adams?
- Will Rayo press Sevilla's build-up aggressively or wait in a more compact block?
- How much will the new coaches risk in their first league appearance?
Head-to-head results favour Sevilla
Rayo have not found it easy to win in recent head-to-head matches. Sevilla have remained unbeaten in the last five league meetings between these clubs.
- Sevilla FC - Rayo Vallecano 1-1, March 2026.
- Rayo Vallecano - Sevilla FC 0-1, September 2025.
- Rayo Vallecano - Sevilla FC 1-1, March 2025.
- Sevilla FC - Rayo Vallecano 1-0, November 2024.
- Rayo Vallecano - Sevilla FC 1-2, February 2024.
The last meeting at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán ended 1-1. Sevilla took the lead through Akor Adams, while Rayo equalised in the second half through Pache Espina.
In this match, several important figures from that game will be absent or have a different status, and both clubs are led by new coaches. Because of that, the history of their head-to-head meetings provides context, but is not enough for a simple prediction.
Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán and the first home evening of the season
Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán is located in the Nervión district, at C. Sevilla Fútbol Club, s/n. The stadium opened in 1958 and has been one of the city's main football venues for decades.
Its location in a built-up urban area significantly shapes the matchday experience. Nervión gradually fills with supporters several hours before kick-off, while the streets around the stadium become considerably busier. For an evening kick-off such as 21:30, it is particularly useful to plan the arrival in advance rather than trying to arrive by car immediately before kick-off.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters. The opening of the season, a new coach and a large number of squad changes for the hosts give the match additional importance.
Getting to the stadium
The simplest option for a large number of visitors is public transport. Nervión station is on metro line 1, while Gran Plaza is also in the immediate area of the stadium. The city bus service usually increases capacity in the Nervión area for matches at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, including additional departures after the end of the match.
For a match that starts at 21:30, attention should also be paid to the evening timetable. According to the current Metro de Sevilla timetable, services on Saturdays run until 02:00, referring to the departure time of the final trains from the terminal stations.
A practical arrival plan:
- Metro line 1 - Nervión or Gran Plaza stations.
- City buses - increased services towards the Nervión area are expected on matchdays.
- Car - expect heavier traffic around the stadium and allow extra time to find parking.
- Arriving on foot from the wider city centre is possible with a combination of public transport and a short final walk through Nervión.
- Check for any special traffic measures on the day of the match because arrangements around the stadium may change.
For this specific match, a special gate-opening time has not yet been announced. In previous information for home matches, Sevilla have stated that opening the gates 60 minutes before kick-off is the usual practice, while for certain matches with special security arrangements the stadium was opened 90 minutes earlier. It is therefore reasonable to arrive in Nervión sufficiently early and check for any new club notice shortly before the match.
An evening in Sevilla begins long before the first whistle
Nervión is not an isolated sports complex on the outskirts of the city, but a lively urban district with shops, restaurants and a large number of everyday amenities around the stadium. This makes organising a visit easier because it is not necessary to arrive immediately before the match. Supporters coming from other parts of Spain or from abroad can combine several hours in the city with a trip to the stadium without a long transfer to a remote sports area.
The greatest concentration of people is naturally created immediately around Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán. For the first match of the new season, an additional factor will be curiosity about Luis García's Sevilla: new players, a different attacking structure and opportunities for youngsters after a series of outgoing transfers.
Rayo arrive as opponents who have no reason to accept a secondary role. Eighth place last season and the run to a European final raised expectations, but the coaching change brings a new question: how much will the team's identity change under Beñat San José?
It is worth securing tickets in time. Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in the first round will offer not only the beginning of a new league season, but also the first serious answer to the question of which direction two clubs that embarked on different types of reconstruction over the summer are heading.
Players worth watching from the stands
At Sevilla, many eyes will be on Rubén Vargas. Last season he was one of the team's leading creators with six league assists, and after appearing at the World Cup he joined pre-season later than some of his teammates. He already received minutes against Bayer Leverkusen, so the week leading up to the start of the league season will be important for his readiness for a bigger role.
Peque enters the season with encouraging pre-season signs. His mobility allows García Plaza to use different attacking arrangements, while the goal against Utrecht confirmed that he can also provide finishing.
Miguel Sierra is another interesting name. His goal against Bayer Leverkusen came in the final serious test before Rayo and further intensified competition among the younger attacking options.
For the visitors, Jorge de Frutos is the clearest goalscoring reference after last season's 10 league goals. Álvaro García provides directness and five assists from last season, while Andrei Ratiu can create overloads from the right flank both in attack and in transition.
Isi Palazón remains a player who should not be assessed only through goals. His position between the lines may determine how successfully Rayo can retain the ball after Sevilla's first press.
Behind them, Batalla provides security in goal, while the addition of Kumbulla alongside Lejeune and Luiz Felipe gives San José more possible combinations in central defence.
First round with no room for old points
The table shows only zeros at the beginning, but the start is not without significance. Immediately after Rayo, Sevilla travel to Athletic Club and then host Atlético de Madrid. A good result in the first round would therefore give García Plaza a calmer foundation before a demanding continuation of August.
After their trip to Sevilla, Rayo host Deportivo Alavés and then travel to FC Barcelona. The visitors, therefore, also have a sufficiently demanding opening schedule for every point won at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to have practical value.
For a supporter in the stands, the attraction lies precisely in that uncertainty. Sevilla have changed their coach and a significant part of their squad. Rayo have changed their coach but retained a large part of the team's core. One side are trying to build a new identity quickly, while the other are trying to preserve what worked and add the ideas of the new coaching staff.
When the match begins at 21:30, the pre-season results will cease to matter. That is when the battle for the first real points of the season begins.
Sources:
- LALIGA - match time, first round and initial league table situation for the 2026/2027 season.
- Sevilla FC - appointment of Luis García Plaza, pre-season matches, transfers, information about Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, access to the stadium and ticket sales.
- Rayo Vallecano - appointment of Beñat San José, current squad, pre-season results, arrival of Marash Kumbulla and Luiz Felipe's stay.
- Sporting Life / Opta - final LaLiga standings for 2025/2026.
- ESPN - league player statistics for the 2025/2026 season and the Bayer Leverkusen - Sevilla FC result.
- Metro de Sevilla - stations, line 1 and the current Saturday service timetable.
- TUSSAM - organisation of increased bus services for matches at Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
- Visita Sevilla - stadium location and the context of the Nervión district.