Will Sevilla remain unbeaten at their Andalusian neighbours?
Granada welcome Sevilla, third in the La Liga table. The Rojiblancos are still unbeaten after six league games and have won two thirds of their matches. League leaders Real Madrid alone are also still on a blank slate in the league-wide comparison.
The home side are still waiting for their first win of the season and are not in very good form at the moment. Their defence is particularly shaky and, together with three other teams, they have conceded the most goals in the Spanish football league.
For the match at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes between Granada and Sevilla, the tip is aiming for an away win.
Spain Granada – Statistics & current form
Last season’s ninth-placed team took part in the Europa League for the first time in its history two years ago as the then seventh-placed team and the path immediately led very successfully to the quarter-finals of the competition. But there is not much left of that glory for the “Nazaries”.
Instead of the international stage, the relegation battle in La Liga is probably on the agenda this season. After seven match days, they are only in 18th place and thus in the first relegation spot in the table. As mentioned, there is a hitch in the defence: in the opening game alone against the reigning Europa League winners from Villarreal, a clean sheet was recorded.
Granada fear for their keeper
The use of Luis Maximiano is now also in question. The goalkeeper came from Sporting in the Portuguese Primeira Liga before the season and was forced to leave the pitch early in the last league match due to a injury
In his place, Aaron Escandell will probably be between the posts. The 26-year-old has little experience, having only played a handful of games for the 1959 Cup runners-up in recent years
Attack with room for improvement
Furthermore, the attack is equally weak: only four teams in the Spanish top flight have managed to undercut the meagre yield of five goals so far. One reason is surely the departure of Roberto Soldado, who was a reliable goal scorer for Granda in the past two seasons but is now employed by league rivals UD Levante.
However, it is encouraging that four of their five goals have come on home soil and that they have scored in every one of their three home games so far
Predicted line-up of Granada:
Escandell – Quini – Duarte – Sanchez – Neva – Soro – Gonalons – Milla – Puertas – Suarez – Bacca
Last matches played by Granada:
Spain Sevilla – Statistics & current form
Even though the home side are clearly more successful at scoring goals at home compared to their performances away from home, it will be particularly difficult against Sevilla. Coach Julen Lopetegui’s team is a real defensive bulwark.
They have only allowed two goals in six games – the best record in La Liga. In view of this, the odds on an away win to nil in the match between Granada and Sevilla also offer sufficient value.
En-Nesyri remains hungry for goals
Last year’s fourth-placed side can also rely on Youssef En-Nesyri in attack in his usual form. The Moroccan scored 18 goals for the 1946 champions last season and is back to a 50 per cent goal rate after six games this term.
He will also be rested against Granada because, unlike his team-mates, the 24-year-old was suspended for the Champions League match at Wolfsburg (1-1).
In view of the above, the betting odds on his next goal in the clash between Granada and Sevilla are even more interesting for the Blanquirrojos. Once again, the Danish ex-Borussian Thomas Delaney will not be able to play. The midfielder picked up a yellow card in the last win against Espanyol Barcelona.
Predicted Sevilla line-up:
Bono – Navas – Kounde – Diego Carlos – Acuna – Rakitic – Jordan – Suo – Ocampos – En-Nesyri – Mir
Last matches played by Sevilla:
Granada – Sevilla Direct Comparison / H2H Record
The Nervionenses prevailed 2-1 at home in the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán in their last direct encounter around five months ago. The only goal for Granada was scored by Soldado, who, as described, is no longer with the home side.
The win gave the record UEFA Cup and Europa League winners revenge for a 1-0 defeat in last year’s first leg. For the next edition of Granada vs. Sevilla, however, the odds are once again pointing to the visitors as the favourites.
Spain Granada – Sevilla Spain Tip
Granada coach Robert Moreno no longer has Soldado, his best goal-scorer from last season, at his disposal and Jorge Molina, the former second-highest scorer, is out of form. On top of that, his team’s defence is extremely shaky and concedes an average of almost two goals per league match. It is no wonder that they have not yet managed a three-goal win in La Liga this season.
For the Andalusian derby between Granada and Sevilla , betting on an away win seems to be profitable The five-time cup winners of the country have presented themselves very stable so far and have not yet lost a game this season. In addition, top striker Youssef En-Nesyri was able to rest during the week and had a game off due to a card suspension in the Champions League.
This means that he will be physically fresh against the “Nazaries”. Another factor in favour of the prediction is the tight personnel situation for the home side. In addition to the probably injured regular goalkeeper Luis Maximiano, other players such as the Cameroonian Yan Eteki in midfield and the Colombian Neyder Lozano in defence will be absent due to injuries.
