Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
Two sides who will be desperate to bounce back for their European defeats earlier in the week, Sevilla will welcome Real Madrid to the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on Saturday afternoon.
Sevilla
Starting with the hosts, while Sevilla might have really had the feel of a side who had turned a corner either side of November’s international break, Los Palanganas certainly came crashing back down to earth in midweek. Although Julen Lopetegui’s men might have managed to book their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League with time to spare, the Whites were eventually blown away thanks to a 4-0 drumming against Premier League outfit Chelsea on Wednesday night. Watching their eye-catching five-match winning run across all formats come to an abrupt end at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in midweek, Sevilla now have their sights set on trying to find a route back into the top-four. While the former Spain boss might have seen his side struggle to find their best form since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, it should be noted that Saturday’s hosts have won their last three La Liga matchups on the bounce.
Team News
After being given a rest for their 4-0 defeat against Chelsea in midweek, the likes of Jules Kounde, Lucas Ocampos, Joan Jordan, Munir El Haddadi, Fernando and Luuk de Jong are all set to return.
Real Madrid
As for the visitors, also putting on what was a Champions League horrorshow earlier in the week, there is no doubt that Real Madrid find themselves in the midst of a real crisis. While Los Blancos might have managed to dethrone Barcelona and reclaim their La Liga title over the summer, the Spanish giants were hit with a stunning 2-0 defeat away at Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek and they have now suffered back-to-back defeats against the Ukrainian champions. Shockingly dropping out of the top-two and now in an uphill battle if they’re to book their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s European tournament, Zinedine Zidane’s position in the Spanish capital is under real scrutiny. Also last seen on La Liga duties suffering a 2-1 defeat against Alaves on home soil, Madrid have managed to win just one of their last five matchups across all formats. Already sat seven points adrift of league leaders Real Sociedad, Los Blancos should at least take some solace from the fact that they have won each of their last three straight meetings against Saturday’s hosts.
Team News
Real Madrid have confirmed that they will be without Eden Hazard and Federico Valverde this weekend.
Elsewhere, Luka Jovic has tested negative for coronavirus and is now free to return on Saturday.
Key Factors to Consider
- Including a 2-1 win when the two sides last faced off back in January, Real Madrid have won each of their last three straight meetings against Saturday’s hosts.
- However, Los Blancos have managed to win just one of their last five matchups across all competitions.
- Sevilla’s 4-0 defeat at home against Chelsea in midweek brought an end to their five-match winning run across all formats.
- Three of Sevilla’s last four home fixtures have seen over 2.5 goals by the final whistle.
- Real Madrid have managed to record just a single clean sheet in their last 10 matchups across all formats.
Conclusion
On paper, we could have quite the lively contest on our hands when the two sides face off on Saturday afternoon. With both Sevilla and Real Madrid getting hit with Champions League drummings earlier in the week, Los Blancos do find themselves in the midst of a real crisis. Although they might have managed to win each of their last three straight meetings against Los Palanganas, Zidane’s men have won just one of their last five matchups across all formats and have a real reputation for their glaring issues at the back. Along with Sevilla shipping a quartet of strikes against Chelsea in midweek and three of their last four home fixtures seeing a string of goals, we’re backing a similar high-scoring outcome this weekend.
Verdict: Over 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
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