FC Magdeburg to host FC Sevilla in the MDCC-Arena
In their last friendly match before the start of the 2nd Bundesliga season, FC Magdeburg will face a top team. As part of the 50th anniversary of „Magdeburg international – 50 Jahre Europapokal,“ the reigning Europa League champions FC Sevilla will be the guests on Sunday afternoon. Let’s take a look at our opponent and give some information.
Worst league placement in over 20 years
Founded in 1890, the team from the Andalusian region of Spain has mostly played in the country’s top league. Only towards the end of the 90s and the beginning of the 2000s did they have three seasons in the second division. The club’s greatest national achievements include winning the Spanish championship in 1946 and the Spanish Cup a record five times (most recently in 2010).
In LaLiga, the team from the Andalusian region finished in eleventh place last season – their worst placement since being relegated to the Segunda Division in the 1999/2000 season. During the second half of the season, the Spaniards parted ways with their head coach Jorge Sampaoli. He was replaced by the 62-year-old Jose Luis Mendilibar, who has now been on the sidelines for 460 LaLiga matches.
Entering the Champions League as Europa League winners
The city rivals of Betis Sevilla once again caused a sensation in European competitions. After starting in the group stage of the Champions League with Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, and FC Copenhagen – only winning one of the six group matches – they continued in the Europa League. Victories against Eindhoven, Fenerbahce Istanbul, Manchester United, and Juventus Turin took Sevilla to the final against AS Roma.
In Budapest, the record Europa League winners clinched their seventh title with a 5-2 victory in a penalty shootout. This success also means direct qualification for the 2023/24 Champions League.
Three World Cup winners in the squad
Several prominent names in football history have already worn the FC Sevilla jersey. Diego Maradona, Dani Alves, and Sergio Ramos have all donned the Andalusian colors. Famous players with Bundesliga backgrounds include Piotr Trochowski, Marko Marin, Andreas Hinkel, and Ivan Rakitic. The latter has been under contract with the southern Spanish team for the second time since 2020. Additionally, three Argentine World Cup winners from 2022 – Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuña, and Alejandro Gomez – also play for the Spanish top-flight club.
Here are some important facts and information about the match:
Venue/Tickets
The match will take place on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the MDCC-Arena in Magdeburg. Kick-off is at 3:00 PM. Tickets for the match can still be obtained at 1fcm.de/tickets and at the box office, which opens at 2:00 PM on Sunday. Furthermore, a season opening event with a partner mile and a members‘ festival will take place before the match. For more information, please visit the official website. All other important information about the matchday can be found in the matchday info.
Weather
Currently, a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and light rain are expected in Magdeburg on Sunday.
Social Media
As usual, we will keep you updated on our website and social media channels both before and during the match. The hashtag for the game is #FCMSevilla.
