Sevilla dropped down from the 5th spot after a loss to Getafe away from home. This might mean no Champions League for them next season. They need a victory here.
Now the team has an opportunity to meet Villarreal at home, 3 days before the yellow submarine heads for Portugal to play an Europa League semi-final against FC Porto. Sevilla are currently 7th with 46 points, a home record of W8 D4 L4, scoring 27 goals in those games and conceding 18. The team is unbeaten on home ground since January 15th when they lost a game against Espanyol. Since then, the team recorded 4 victories and 2 draws, one of which was against Barcelona. Sevilla has an equal amount of points with the 6th Atletico Madrid, and would need a victory here to keep up with them if they would like to play in Europe next season.
Villarreal are 4th at the moment with 57 points, 9 points ahead of the 5th Athletic Bilbao and would hardly lose that spot, considering that there are 6 rounds left until the season is over. The team’s away record reads W5 D3 L7, scoring 19 and conceding 26 goals in those games. If Villarreal had the ambitions to get the 3rd spot, they would have probably played better on Mestalla against Valencia where they lost with 0:5. However four days later they had an Europa League game, which is the same case with this game.
Expect Villarreal to be entirely focused and saving strength for the semi-final on Thursday. Besides, their record on Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in Sevilla reads, W2 D1 L10.
Most recent visits:
08/11/2009 FC Sevilla vs. Villarreal 3:2
14/12/2008 FC Sevilla vs. Villarreal 1:0
06/04/2008 FC Sevilla vs. Villarreal 2:0
17/06/2007 FC Sevilla vs. Villarreal 0:1
29/01/2006 FC Sevilla vs. Villarreal 2:0
I would back Sevilla in this game. Clearly they need a victory here to keep that 7th spot or even better, get ahead of Atletico Madrid who are 6th only because of a better goal difference. Villarreal made it clear two rounds ago, that Europa League is much more important for them than the third spot in the league. A loss with 0:5 against Valencia, 4 days before their match with Twente in Europa League.
It was very obvious that the team was saving strength for that game, and I think something similar will happen here as well. My prediction, Sevilla to win. Good luck betting.
Recommended Bet:
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Sevilla to win @ 1.95 | Place a Bet at Bet365 |
