The party goes on in Seville: it's time for Real Betis and Sevilla to face off in El Gran Derbi

Real Betis and Sevilla will face off on Sunday in an important match, as they aim to finish the season by meeting their respective objectives.

Real Betis and Sevilla have largely been competing from afar this year in La Liga, at opposite ends of the table, but the standings count for little when it’s time for El Gran Derbi. This is the most important match of the year in the Andalusian capital and it’s experienced in a special way in the stands and on the pitch, with nerves, intensity and competitiveness. In fact, the last three duels between the two teams have ended in a draw.

Manuel Pellegrini’s team are better positioned in the table, with 48 points and the realistic goal of playing in European competition next season. With two consecutive victories following on from four defeats in a row, Los Verdiblancos have moved back into the European positions and enter El Gran Derbi full of confidence and ready to try to take three more points off their biggest rival.

For Sevilla, the season has been more complicated, even to the point of fearing relegation. However, with three wins in the last five games, Quique Sanchez Flores’ team have eased those fears and shown that their players still have quality. Europe may be out of reach, but winning El Gran Derbi would at least be a small triumph for all their fans in the final stretch of a tough season.

The match will be special for Isco Alarcon, who is playing against his former team and in front of his new fans. The Spaniard has recently recovered from injury and, in the match against Valencia at Mestalla, he proved that he is ready for El Gran Derbi. He is the player in La Liga with the third-most dribbles and the undisputed leader of Pellegrini’s side.

He will face a former Real