Will the Basques continue their run in Sevilla?
Sevilla FC’s slump reached a new low during the week as the Europa League record winners were beaten 4-1 at home by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. Just 30 minutes later, the officials fired coach Julen Lopetegui. A decision that had reportedly already been made a few days earlier.
On Saturday, the team will be coached for the first time by Jorge Sampaoli, who, however, has only one day to get an idea. Accordingly, an immediate turnaround looks unlikely, especially as the visitors from the Basque country won five of their last six league games. Consequently, the odds on Sevilla against Athletic Bilbao swing in the direction of the Basques.
While it is always a little risky to use the three-way system in a bet in the first game after a change of coach, such a change can always unleash unexpected forces. In the end, however, the recent state of the Nervionenses, who are in 17th place in La Liga, was too desolate for betting on an away win for the Basques in Sevilla against Athletic Bilbao to have too little value.
If you still find the matter a little too tricky, you can opt for the under bet, which is very promising in view of the visitors’ defence, which has conceded only four goals in seven games. Alternatively, it also makes sense to hedge tip 2 by using a free bet.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
Although Sevilla FC’s last national championship dates back to 1946, the Nervionenses are one of the flagships of Spanish football. With six overall victories between 2006 and 2020, the showpiece club from Andalusia is, after all, the record winner of the Europa League.
Accordingly, it would be hard to reconcile the club’s ambitions with such a false start in all respects, as was the case under Julen Lopetegui. Not only do the Rojiblancos occupy a sobering 17th place in La Liga, but they also no longer have much chance of surviving in the Champions League.
Having conceded 21 goals in ten competitive matches
Now Jorge Sampaoli, who already pulled the strings at Sevilla in 2016/17, is expected to pull the cart out of the mud. However, the 62-year-old is confronted with the same problems as his overall very successful predecessor. After the sale of Jules Koundé and Diego Carlos and the injury to Karim Rekik, there is currently a lack of good quality central defenders.
It is no coincidence that the Nervionenses have already conceded a staggering 21 goals in just ten competitive games in the 2022/23 season, of which they have won just one (three draws, six defeats).
En-Nesyri and Dolberg have yet to score
Making matters worse, they have also lacked attacking punch since the departure of Lucas Ocampos. Youssef En-Nesyri, on whose shoulders much of the responsibility rests, is still without a goal in league play, as is newcomer Kasper Dolberg.
Consequently, despite the change of coach, the Rojiblancos will only be outsiders in their home match against the current third-placed team in the table.
Predicted Sevilla line-up:
Bono – Telles – Marcao – Nianzou – Montiel – Gudelj – Jordán – Gómez – Rakitic – Lamela – En-Nesyri
Last matches played by Sevilla:
Champions League Grp. G
06/10/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 4 Borussia Dortmund
La Liga
01/10/2022 – Sevilla FC 0 – 2 Atletico Madrid
18/09/2022 – Villarreal FC 1 – 1 Sevilla FC
Champions League Grp. G
15/09/2022 – FC Copenhagen 0 – 0 FC Sevilla
La Liga
10/09/2022 – Espanyol 2 – 3 FC Sevilla
Athletic Bilbao – Statistics & current form
The Athletic Club has played continuously in the highest Spanish league since 1928 and has won the championship eight times. In the Copa del Rey, the Leones have even celebrated 24 overall victories. Since 1984, however, they have only won the insignificant Supercopa de Espana twice at national level.
The longing for titles in the Basque Country is correspondingly great. And everyone involved is correspondingly pleased with the Basques’ convincing start to the season.
Won five of the first seven league games
Ernesto Valverde’s side have picked up 16 points from a possible 21 in their first seven league games, putting them in third place in the table, just three points behind the top duo of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
So far, the Leones have been in good form both offensively and defensively, with 16 goals scored, making them the third-best offensive team in La Liga. On the other hand, the only four goals conceded also give the Athletic Club the third best defence in the country.
Only lost one of the last four guest games at Sevilla FC
Thus, there is a lot to be said for the Basques being able to capitalise on the Andalusians’ slump in form and betting on an away win for Valverde’s side at Sevilla against Athletic Bilbao. After all, the recent record against the Nervionenses is also quite respectable.
The Leones have lost just one of their last four matches at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (two wins, one draw). The Basques will be full of confidence when they travel to Andalusia after winning three league games in a row.
Predicted line-up of Athletic Bilbao:
Simón – Lekue – Martínez – Álvarez – de Marcos – García – Sancet – Berenguer – Muniain – N. Williams – I. Williams
Last matches played by Athletic Bilbao:
La Liga
01/10/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 4 – 0 Almeria
18/09/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 3 – 2 Rayo Vallecano
11/09/2022 – Elche 1 – 4 Athletic Bilbao
04/09/2022 – Athletic Bilbao 0 – 1 Espanyol
30/08/2022 – Cadiz 0 – 4 Athletic Bilbao
Sevilla – Athletic Bilbao Direct comparison / H2H record
Head to head: 68 – 31 – 64
There have already been 163 meetings between the two teams and with 68 wins, Sevilla FC lead the head-to-head comparison by a narrow margin. Last season, the Andalusians won both games 1-0, but only one of their last four home games against the Leones has been won.
Sevilla – Athletic Bilbao Tip
For Sevilla against Athletic Bilbao, the prediction clearly goes in the direction of the in-form Basques, who now travel to a grounded opponent. It is true that the change of coach may well unleash new forces at the Nervionenses. But it’s not too likely that Sampaoli will be able to get the team back on track against one of the best opponents in La Liga at the moment without any new personnel.
Accordingly, the betting on an away win for Sevilla against Athletic Bilbao is very playable for the Leones, who have also won two of their last four matches at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
