Raul Tamudo has been left out of the Espanyol squad for a second week running

Raul Tamudo - still missing.

Raul Tamudo has been left out of the Espanyol squad for a second week running as the in-form Catalans prepare to test Sevilla's title credentials at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Tamudo, Espanyol's all-time record appearance holder and goalscorer, has been embroiled in an unseemly contract dispute with the Barcelona-based side.

And even though club and player looked to have made peace this week, the veteran striker has been excluded from the party to face third-placed Sevilla.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino says not the player is in no condition to play.

"We have been evaluating all week which players can come in and, in Tamudo's case, he is not in a fine, optimum condition, not one of guarantees, and that is why I have taken this decision," he said.

Pochettino refused to be drawn further on the subject, but admitted his explanation was open to interpretation.

"There is nothing more to say - it is an image that can reflect more than what I can say," he added.

"Each person can come to their own conclusions, everybody has seen what has happened and each one will have their opinion and idea about the situation."

Espanyol beat fourth-placed Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 away from home earlier this season, but lost the one game they have played against the perceived title contenders, going down 3-0 at home to Real Madrid in the second round of matches.

The Catalans are unbeaten since then, though, and Pochettino believes they will be better prepared for the game against Sevilla.

"That match came a bit soon for us and we were a bit short, but we have recovered and we are in good shape," he said.

And Pochettino believes his side can win the three points in Seville.

"I think they can be beaten, but we have to know we are up against a very strong team physically and with a lot of potential in the air," he said.

Juan Forlin is available again after suspension and is set to return in central defence, but Ferran Corominas is sidelined for two months and will not feature against Sevilla.

Following back-to-back defeats in their first two matches, Espanyol have won three and drawn two, and the Catalans moved up to eighth place in the table after last weekend's 2-1 win at home to Tenerife.

Sevilla, meanwhile, suffered a blow to their title hopes as they surprisingly went down 1-0 at in-form Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.

That defeat ended a run of five straight league wins, but the Andalusians remain in third and are just four points behind leaders Barcelona after seven matches.

After that loss, Sevilla returned to winning ways in the Champions League on Tuesday, when they beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 in Germany.

Luis Fabiano was hauled off at half-time in that match and appeared furious at the decision.

But coach Manolo Jimenez says the change was for the good of the team and claims he is pleased with the player's reaction.

"The common good goes above the personal good of any individual player," he said.

And he added: "I love it that he is angry, because that shows the ambition he has, and I also like that he has his battery charged again a day later."

Jimenez expects a difficult match against Espanyol.

"They are a difficult rival and their coach's influence is obvious - we cannot take anything for granted," he said.

Adriano and Andres Palop both miss out through injury, but Alvaro Negredo, Renato and Abdoulay Konko are available after shaking off knocks.