Sergio Ramos, a long-time defensive pillar for Real Madrid, will face his former club on Saturday when the Spanish league leader visits 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.
Real Madrid is 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 Jos 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 leads the surprising second-placed Girona by two points, with Barcelona three points off the pace in third spot.
Jude 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.
