We don't have confirmed lineups or formations from the brief — the data just isn't there yet — but we can paint a fair picture. Sevilla under their current setup are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, with a double pivot shielding the back four and a number ten knitting play between the lines. They'll look to dominate possession, stretch Rayo wide, and hit crosses into the box. The full-backs will push high, the wide men will tuck in, and the striker will feed on scraps. It's not rocket science, but it works when the crowd is roaring.

Rayo, by contrast, are likely to sit in a compact 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 low block. They're not a side that comes to Sevilla to play tiki-taka. They'll cede the ball, stay narrow, and try to hit on the break through pace in wide areas. Their midfield will be asked to do the dirty work — second balls, tackles, fouls in the right areas. They'll hope to nick a set-piece goal or catch Sevilla napping on the counter. It's a classic away-day blueprint, and it can work, but it requires discipline for 90 minutes. One lapse, one moment of quality from Sevilla's number ten, and the whole plan unravels.

The key battle will be in midfield. Sevilla's double pivot against Rayo's two banks of four. If Sevilla can move the ball quickly enough, they'll find pockets of space between the lines. If Rayo can stay compact and frustrate, the game becomes a grind. We expect Sevilla to have the lion's share of the ball, but Rayo will make them work for every inch.