This summer, Sergio Ramos returned to his boyhood club Sevilla FC. Now a special game is coming up for the defensive specialist, because on Saturday (October 21st, 2023) it will be against the league leaders and Ramos’ former club Real Madrid (live ticker from 6:30 p.m. at sportschau.de).
2004/2005 season: On matchday 36, Sevilla welcomed the Real Madrid team at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. There was an 18-year-old Sergio Ramos, who had fought for a regular place in Sevilla’s defense this season. In the 2-2 draw, the central defender even scored a goal against the Real grandees around Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos.
From Andalusia to Madrid
The following summer, Ramos moved to the Spanish capital for 27 million euros. A change that, shortly before, after Ramos’ declaration of loyalty to Sevilla FC, triggered hateful tirades among the Sevillistas. In the duels with Sevilla, Ramos repeatedly fought skirmishes with the Sevilla fans, provoking them with conspicuous cheers, among other things.
In his new sporting home, however, Ramos is carried on his hands. In a total of 18 years with the Madrilenians, the Spaniard grew into a club icon himself. Some of the 101 goals that Ramos scored as a defender in 671 games are unforgettable. Probably the most important was the late equalizer in the 2014 Champions League final against city rivals Atletico Madrid. This triumph was followed by three more Champions League titles in 2016, 2017 and 2018. During his time at Madrid, Ramos won a total of 24 titles at club level, as well as the World Cup and European Championships with Spain.
Emotional return to Sevilla FC
After a two-year stint at Paris-Saint Germain from 2021 to 2023 that was marred by injuries, Ramos returned to Andalusia this summer. The 37-year-old signed a 1-year contract for a free transfer. His words during the inaugural speech were highly emotional, in which he tearfully apologized to the fans in front of 23,000 spectators. He hopes to be able to change the opinion of the Sevilla fans, who are still critical of him, through “good performances and an apology.”
The first reunion with Real
Since Ramos missed the Champions League duel between Real Madrid and PSG due to injury, he will be back on the field against Real on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. for the first time since leaving Madrid. In terms of sport, the roles are actually clearly distributed: Real arrive with 20 points and as the league leaders, while Sevilla lags behind their own sporting standards. The Europa League winner from last season is in 14th place in the table with just eight points from eight games.
For Ramos personally, the return to the pitch has also been mixed so far. In the league, the central defender was only fit for two games. Against Real’s arch-rivals, FC Barcelona, of all places, the central defender scored the decisive own goal to make the final score 0-1.
In the Champions League, however, Ramos has been on the field for every possible minute and contributed at least one assist in the 2-2 draw against PSV from Eindhoven. In the upcoming duel, the defender will do everything he can to lead the way, be a tough tackler and possibly score a goal from set pieces, just like in the best of Real times. It would probably make it easier for Sevilla fans to accept the defender’s apology.