Sevilla vs Espanyol
Third plays second in the game of the weekend when La Liga: Sevilla vs Espanyol is the clash in store at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Pundits here at SBOBET didn’t really expect either of these two teams to be a big challenge to leaders Barca. And the old saying goes that you shouldn’t look at the league table until ten games are gone. Well, we’ve seen 11 now and Espanyol are currently sitting second on 21 points with Sevilla heading a group of four teams on 20 points.
It’s tight in the chasing pack, and the loser in Seville on Sunday could easily slip to fifth with Alaves at home to Huesca and Atletico entertaining Athletic Bilbao; both are expected to win.
The winner at the Ramon Sanchez has a golden chance to nail that second spot.
Talking Points
Can Sevilla maintain a challenge?
Of these two teams, Sevilla seem the most likely to stay in the race in the long term and are fancied to make a top-four place. Pablo Machin’s side was leading the table but fell short against Barcelona, losing 4-2 in an entertaining battle at the Bernabeu at the end of October. They have since gone on a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
For a defender in his playing days, Machin is not coaching a team in his own image: Sevilla have been scoring for fun, particularly at home. Striker Andre Silva has started the season in fine form, grabbing a brace in a thumping 3-0 win over Real Madrid as part of his seven-goal haul, but he could be set to miss out through injury. Wissam Ben Yedder also scored in that game and is another potent goal scorer with five to his name, so Machin has a good pick of front men.
The Sevilla vs Espanyol odds give the hosts a very good chance of taking that second spot, and with talent in the shape of former Manchester City winger Jesus Navas and midfield maestro Ever Banega, they can beat anyone on their home soil. The Argentine is an all-rounder; tough in the tackle, earning four yellow cards already and he has weighed in with two league goals.
Machin does have a few injury problems coming into the match, as striker Silva, Simon Kjaer and Gabriel Mercado look set to miss this one.
Iglesias is in red-hot form
If Sevilla do falter, then Espanyol have the firepower to punish the hosts. Head coach Rubi has his team playing with energy and in a disciplined formation with a punch. And they can scrap it out when needed, battling to a 1-0 win against Athletic Bilbao last week to go second. Borja Iglesias headed the winner, and that was his fourth goal in the last three league games to take his total to six for the season.
And the new coach, appointed in June, could become pretty hot property if his career continues to take an upward trajectory. Rubi inspired Huesca to promotion to the Primera Liga, for the first time in its history, but always said his ambition would take him away. Arriving at Espanyol with some big-name players already on the way, including Gerard Moreno and Pau Lopez, Rubi certainly had his work cut out.
But the Catalans have surprised La Liga with their start to the season and sit just three points behind their near-neighbours Barcelona. They head to Andalusia with a six-match unbeaten run.
History
Both teams are in good form in the run-up to Sunday’s clash. Seville has won the last five home games, as has Espanyol, so home advantage could be vital in the outcome of the game. On their travels, Rubi’s team won just one in the last six.
Sevilla vs Espanyol results have been evenly matched in recent times with two wins each from the last five meetings, the other a draw when the honours were shared in the same fixture last season. But Sevilla did have an impressive 0-3 victory in Catalonia.
The overall head-to-heads are strongly in the hosts’ favour at 27 wins to 12, with nine draws.
Betting tip
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Sevilla vs Espanyol | Over 2.75 goals @ 2.03 |
| November 12, 01:30 |
This is a really tough game to call, with two teams in pretty good shape, on unbeaten runs and both with a great chance to make the second spot their own.
Sevilla are at 1.79 with RCD Espanyol at 4.70 and the draw is 3.35; that reflects Los Rojiblancos’ outstanding home form. But Espanyol are a team of fighters and will hurt the hosts if they drop their guard.
The double chance of Espanyol or Draw is available at 1.95, but I can see a home win or high-scoring draw.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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