Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Prediction: Real Madrid vs Sevilla

Tom Dunstan in Free Soccer Predictions, La Liga 8 May 2021

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Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to put their Champions League heartbreak behind them, Real Madrid will welcome Sevilla to the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano on Sunday night.

Real Madrid

Starting with the hosts, putting in a toothless display while on Champions League duties earlier in the week, Real Madrid now have all their eggs firmly in the La Liga basket. Watching Chelsea claim a 2-0 win at an empty Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night and bringing an end to Los Blancos’ European adventure, the Whites know that they face another must-win showdown on Sunday night. Sat two points adrift of league leaders Atletico and with their bitter rivals set to face off against Barcelona this weekend, Zinedine Zidane’s side have shown some signs of fatigue over the past fortnight. Coming under real scrutiny for their display in West London, the French icon has seen his side muster just a single win from their last four matchups across all formats. However, despite their struggles outside of the Spanish capital, Madrid have enjoyed quite the unbeaten run at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano. Including a 2-0 win against Osasuna last time out domestically, Zidane’s men are unbeaten in their last eight La Liga home fixtures.

Team News

After missing Madrid’s 2-0 defeat against Chelsea in midweek, the trio of Lucas Vazquez, Dani Carvajal and Raphael Varane are still facing a spell on the sidelines.

In another potential blow for Sunday’s hosts, Sergio Ramos, Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior all missed training on Friday and are seen as major doubts this weekend.

Sevilla

As for the visitors, while Sevilla might have enjoyed a stunning run of form when returning from March’s international break, Los Nervionenses saw their purple patch brought to an abrupt end last weekend. Knowing that they missed out on a golden opportunity to really keep themselves in the La Liga title chase, Julen Lopetegui’s men were hit with a 1-0 defeat at home against Athletic Bilbao. Sat six points adrift of league leaders Atletico Madrid with just four top-flight contests remaining this season, Sevilla will be desperate to prove last weekend’s defeat was just a minor blip. Previously gaining a long list of admirers after opening April with five wins on the spin, it should also be noted that the one-time Spain boss has largely seen his side impress on the road. Winning each of their last three matchups away from the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, it should also be noted that Sunday’s guests have mustered 19 points from their last eight La Liga contests on their travels.

Team News

Despite suffering from a toe injury, Joan Jordan has been given the green light to feature in Madrid this weekend.

Jules Kounde and Youssef En-Nesyri have also overcome their own minor issues and will feature on Sunday night.

Key Factors to Consider

    • Including a 1-0 win against Sevilla back in December, Real Madrid have won each of their last four meetings against Sunday’s guests.
    • Real Madrid are unbeaten in each of their last eight La Liga home fixtures.
    • Likewise, Sevilla have managed to collect 19 points from their last eight contests on their travels.
    • Los Blancos have seen six of their last eight La Liga home matchups finish with under 2.5 goals.
    • Only one of the last five meetings between Sevilla and Madrid have finished with both teams finding the net.

    Conclusion

    In a contest between two sides who have their sights set on making a late charge for the La Liga title, we could have a cagey affair on our hands this weekend. Crashing out of the Champions League away at Premier League outfit Chelsea in midweek, Los Blancos have shown some recent signs of fatigue over the past fortnight. Drawing a blank at Stamford Bridge and without a win in their last four matchups across all formats, Zidane’s side face a real must-win showdown on home soil. However, while they might hold an eye-catching record against the defending champions, Los Nervionenses have largely impressed over the past month. Despite seeing their five-match winning run come to an end thanks to a shock 1-0 loss against Athletic Bilbao last weekend, Julen Lopetegui’s men have gained a reputation for their success on the road. It should be noted, with six of Madrid’s last seven matchups finishing with under 2.5 goals, we’re backing a similar outcome.

    Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

    Best Odds: 10/11

    Bookmaker: Unibet

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    Tom Dunstan


    Formerly of The Independent, Tom has spent the past six years as one of our senior writers and betting experts. Alongside working with numerous publications from across the globe, Tom also graduated from the University of Falmouth in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Media.
    Spending almost the past decade working in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, he has also spent time featuring in sports radio. Tom can be followed on Instagram - @iamtomdunstan

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