Next big point for Sevilla in the relegation battle?
It’s not just in Germany or England that coach dismissals are almost the order of the day during the course of a season. In Spain, too, coaches have recently been sacked by the dozen. This was also the case with Jorge Sampaoli, who was unable to convince those responsible at Sevilla Fútbol Club to become a long-term solution in Andalusia. José Luis Mendilibar is now the third football coach to sit on the bench at the UEFA Cup record winners this season.
The debut of the experienced ex-professional could hardly have gone better. Thanks to a 2-0 win in the previous week, the southern Spanish side picked up big points in the fight to stay in the league and are now desperate to add to their tally at home on Friday evening at the start of matchday 28. A prediction for a home win in the Sevilla vs. Celta Vigo clash is also definitely within the realms of possibility, even though the visitors have delivered very passable results of late.
Not only are the Light Blue and White unbeaten in six league games, but they have also not lost an away game in the Spanish top flight for over two months. Nevertheless, we are not averse to betting on a three-goal win for the home side between Sevilla and Celta Vigo, as the “Nervionenses” are also well on the way back to their old (home) strength. Qualitatively, the advantages should also lie with the team that is currently four points behind the upcoming opponent.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
Bottom line, Sevilla FC are playing a season to forget. At least in La Liga. While not much was missing in the Copa del Rey to reach the semi-finals and the Andalusians will also be challenged in the UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg against Manchester United next week, the dreary reality of everyday life in the league continues to be “the fight against relegation”.
Although the Red and Whites were able to free themselves a little recently and pick up one or two important points against direct rivals, they are still only four points clear of the first relegation place. The southern Spaniards should therefore not be too sure, especially as they have suffered unexpected or even disgraceful setbacks time and again in past matches.
Will Mendilibar also win his home debut?
Positive with regard to the upcoming home match, however, is that these setbacks were primarily suffered away from home. Prior to the aforementioned 2-0 win in Mendilibar’s debut at Cadiz the previous week, Sevilla had picked up a meagre three points from eight away games and remained winless. At home, on the other hand, their recent record is certainly respectable.
Last year’s fourth-placed team won five of the last six matches at home. Three of these five victories were even celebrated with a clean sheet. The only defeat was against Osasuna (2:3). Thanks to the very consistent performances at the Estadio Rámon Sánchez Pizjuán, we are confident that the odds on a three-goal win for the “Nervionenses” will pay off in the clash between Sevilla and Celta Vigo.
Last games of Sevilla:
La Liga
01/04/2023 – Cadiz 0 – 2 Sevilla FC
20/03/2023 – Getafe 2 – 0 Sevilla FC
Europa League Final Stage
17/03/2023 – Fenerbahçe 1 – 0 FC Sevilla
La Liga
12/03/2023 – Sevilla FC 2 – 1 Almeria
Europa League Final Stage
10/03/2023 – Sevilla FC 2 – 0 Fenerbahçe
Celta Vigo – Statistics & current form
While the spectre of relegation remains omnipresent for the hosts, the visitors from Galicia are playing a largely carefree season. After finishing eleventh in the previous year, there is also much to suggest a mid-table finish in 2022/23. There is not much to go in the direction of the top six, while the current tenth-placed team has an eight-point cushion at the bottom.
The fact that the Light Blue and White are nevertheless looking towards the top half of the table has to do with their remarkable form in recent weeks. The team of coach Carlos Carvalhal has not lost any of the last six La Liga games. Three wins and three draws in the course of this unbeaten streak have provided a reassuring cushion against the relegation zone.
Celta Vigo undefeated away from home since 20 January
Particularly on the road, recent performances have been very impressive. The little Celts remained unbeaten away from home four times in a row. They even won at Espanyol Barcelona and Betis Sevilla. In San Sebastian and Osasuna, they managed to draw points.
However, only four of the 13 matches in La Liga were won. Vigo conceded 21 of the 37 goals they conceded away from home and, statistically speaking, the Light Blue-Whites are not as dangerous at home as they are at home.
To make matters worse, the “grey mouse” from Galicia has only managed to score in two of the last six away matches at the Rámon Sánchez Pizjuán and has not necessarily emerged as a scare tactic for the favourites so far this season. Since the home side must also continue to be listed as a top-six team in Spain in terms of quality, we are deliberately dispensing with odds for the underdog to win a point between Sevilla and Celta Vigo.
Last matches of Celta Vigo:
La Liga
02/04/2023 – Celta Vigo 2 – 2 Almeria
19/03/2023 – Espanyol 1 – 3 Celta Vigo
12/03/2023 – Celta Vigo 3 – 0 Rayo Vallecano
07/03/2023 – Osasuna Pamplona 0 – 0 Celta Vigo
26/02/2023 – Celta Vigo 3 – 0 Real Valladolid
Sevilla – Celta Vigo Direct comparison / H2H record
For the 102nd time, the teams will face each other in Spain’s top division on Friday night. Sevilla have the edge with 46 wins compared to 38 defeats and 17 draws. At home, the Andalusians have even kept the upper hand in 35 of 50 cases (five draws, ten defeats).
The “Nervionenses” have also won four of the last six La Liga home games against the “Celtinas”. In the first leg of the current season, the clubs parted with a 1-1 draw. For the fifth time in a row, Sevilla remained unbeaten against their upcoming opponents.
Sevilla – Celta Vigo Tip
Sevilla FC will be looking to take a big step towards staying in the relegation zone on Friday night at home. After a successful debut under new head coach Jose Luis Mendilibar the previous week, when the southern Spaniards won 2-0 in Cadiz, they are now looking for a win at home.
The fact that the White and Reds have won five of their last six home games in La Liga and have also won four of their last six games at home against their upcoming opponents from Galicia is a source of hope. The flow after the coaching change as well as qualitative advantages are further arguments that bring us closer to betting on the home win between Sevilla and Celta Vigo.
While it should not be forgotten that Carvalhal’s side have gone six games unbeaten in a row and have not lost away from home since mid-January, the disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Almeria the previous week may suggest that their form is already slipping again. Apart from that, the Light Blue and White have conceded a historic 35 defeats in 50 away games in Seville.
In our eyes, it therefore makes sense to play the betting odds of 2.25 on the home treble before Friday night’s match between Sevilla and Celta Vigo.
