No chance for the Andalusians?
Sevilla and Manchester City face each other in the opening game of Group G of the Champions League. The teams have met once before in the competition.
The duels took place in the 2015/16 season and the Premier League title winners of the past two years prevailed 2-1 at home and 3-1 in the return leg at the “Nervionenses”.
For the upcoming match at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán between Sevilla and Manchester City, the tip is aiming for another away win with at least a two-goal difference.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
The Andalusians also competed in the Champions League last season. However, they did not make it past the group stage, with only one win against Wolfsburg in their six games.
The team then continued in the Europa League, where they were eliminated by West Ham in the round of 16.
Coach Julen Lopetegui’s team is currently in a crisis of form. In the first four matchdays of the new La Liga season, last season’s fourth-placed team has suffered three defeats and has yet to record a three-goal haul.
No win against the newcomers either
The Rojiblancos’ meagre results are not the result of a possibly very demanding fixture list, as they have not even managed a win against the two promoted teams Valladolid and Almeria, and even suffered a defeat against the latter opponents.
One reason for the difficulties of the six-time UEFA Cup and Europa League winners is the sell-out in the defence after last season.
With Jules Kounde (Barcelona) and Diego Carlos (Aston Villa), two very capable defenders were sold.
Although replacements were found in Tanguy Nianzou (Bayern) and Marcao (Galatasaray), the two aforementioned players have yet to prove that they can fill the big shoes of the departing defenders.
In light of the performances of the “Hispalenses” so far, this still seems doubtful, at least at the present time. However, the latter Brazilian is not yet able to play anyway, as he is struggling with an injury, which means that at least his debut is still a long time coming.
Predicted Sevilla line-up:
Bono – Navas – Nianzou – Rekik – Telles – Torres – Fernando – Jordan – Papu Gomez – Mir – Lamela
Last matches played by Sevilla:
La Liga
04/09/2022 – Sevilla FC 0 – 3 FC Barcelona
28/08/2022 – Almeria 2 – 1 FC Sevilla
20/08/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 1 Real Valladolid
13/08/2022 – Osasuna Pamplona 2 – 1 Sevilla FC
Friendly club matches
07/08/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 0 Cadiz
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
Manchester City continue to wait for their first Champions League title and in the last edition of the competition, the Citizens’ path led them all the way to the semi-finals. There, City suffered a highly dramatic defeat to eventual winners Real Madrid after extra time in the second leg.
In view of the images of the Catalan coach, who remained lonely on his bench afterwards, in apparent dialogue with the football god about the renewed failure, one had to be seriously concerned about his mental state.
But in the meantime Guardiola has come to terms with the defeat and is now making a fresh start. The form of his team is also right for once.
Although the season started with a defeat against Liverpool in the FA Community Shield, Manchester have long since got rolling again in the Premier League.
Haaland also feel very much at home in England
No team in the British top flight has marked more goals and the biggest contributor has been new signing Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian has already delivered two hat-tricks this season and has quickly shown that he continues to be very successful in the Premier League after stints in Austria and Germany.
In view of his current excellent form, betting on his next goal in the clash between Sevilla and Manchester City is also advisable.
This is also backed up by his excellent record in the Champions League: in his 19 appearances in the competition, he has scored 23 goals – the highest goal-per-game ratio in the history of the competition for a player who has played at least ten games.
He has also scored against Sevilla in the CL: while still in the service of Borussia Dortmund, he scored no fewer than four goals in the two encounters in the 2020/21 season.
Will City strike at least twice?
Also, given the home side’s generally potent attack and thinly-staffed defence, predictions of more than one goal by the visitors from the island are on offer.
Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ederson – Ake – Stones – Walker – Cancelo – de Bruyne – Rodri – Gündogan – Foden – Haaland – Silva
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Premier League
03/09/2022 – Aston Villa 1 – 1 Manchester City
01/09/2022 – Manchester City 6 – 0 Nottingham Forest
27/08/2022 – Manchester City 4 – 2 Crystal Palace
Club friendlies
25/08/2022 – FC Barcelona 3 – 3 Manchester City
Premier League
21/08/2022 – Newcastle 3 – 3 Manchester City
Sevilla – Manchester City Direct comparison / H2H record
As described at the beginning, the teams already faced each other in the Champions League almost seven years ago and both duels ended with a victory for the “Skyblues”.
Sevilla – Manchester City Tip
The “Blanquirrojos” have not started well in the new La Liga season. The Spanish champions of 1946 have lost important defensive players in the summer, which is why last season’s best defence in La Liga is currently rated as weaker.
In the four league games they have played in the new season, they have not yet managed a clean sheet and have already conceded eight goals
For the clash between Sevilla and Manchester City, betting on an away win for the British side with more than a one-goal difference seems to be profitable. This is not only due to the shaky condition of the home side, but also the stable condition of the British side.
Guardiola’s team has the most goals in the Premier League and, in Erling Haaland, arguably the best striker in Europe at the moment. His ten goals after six matchdays in the domestic league make this judgement easy.
