Sergio Ramos, a long-time defensive pillar for Real Madrid, will face his former club on Saturday when the Spanish league leaders visit struggling Sevilla.

Ramos left Madrid in 2021 after helping the club win 22 titles in 16 seasons, including four Champions Leagues and five Spanish leagues. Following two disappointing seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, the 37-year-old Ramos re-joined boyhood club Sevilla last month for what is expected to be his last hurrah.

Madrid are playing the best football in Spain, largely thanks to the explosion of new arrival Jude Bellingham.

The game will also mark the debut of Sevilla’s new coach, the Uruguayan Diego Alonso, who replaced Jose Mendilibar during the international break that has just ended.

Mendilibar led Sevilla to the Europa League title last season, but was let go with his team in 14th place and just two points off the relegation zone.

Ramos returned to Sevilla with the season already underway and Mendilibar left him on the bench for two of the four league games he was available for. Madrid lead the surprising second-placed Girona by two points, with Barcelona three points off the pace in third spot.

Bellingham has been on a superb scoring run since joining Madrid in the off-season. The England midfielder has netted 10 times in as many appearances overall for the club, including a league-leading eight goals.

Barcelona host fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, after a judge stepped up his scrutiny of the club by including their current president in his investigation into the payment of millions of euros to a referee official.

Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez may be without several key players due to injury. Robert Lewandowski, who missed Barcelona’s last game, may still be suffering with an ankle injury. Xavi is also expected to be without Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Raphinha and Jules Kounde.