Does the Dutch offensive power also strike in Spain?
Finally the international competitions start into the second exciting phase. The knockout matches in the last 16 of the Champions League and the sixteenth finals of the Europa and Conference League are on the agenda. In the EL, the Boeren from Holland are guests in Andalusia. The bookmakers are predicting a close game between Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven. Both teams solved their tasks last weekend with aplomb and seem to be in good form.
The visitors in particular recorded an impressive victory against the Eredivisie’s bottom team. The Red and Whites can look back on successful weeks and are still well in the running in both the championship and the cup competition. However, a high hurdle now awaits the visitors in the form of the southern Spaniards, who will initially take on the underdog role in the second leg. In the duel between Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven, betting on the Rood-Witten is rewarded with odds of 3.20.
The home side have struggled to get going this season, leading to a replacement at the coaching position. The team is now in the process of fighting its way out of the bottom of the table and into the upper regions. It remains to be seen how far this road will take them. The gap to the international starting positions is already considerable. Kick-off at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is on Thursday evening at 9:00 p.m.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
At the start of the current season, things did not go smoothly at all for the hosts. After seven matchdays, seventeenth place in the league and a heavy 1:4 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund, the club parted ways with coach Julen Lopetegui. The Argentine Jorge Sampaoli was introduced as the new hopeful. Under him, the club is now expected to get back on the road to success.
Due to the unsuccessful start to the season, the Andalusians currently occupy only a midfield position. In the 21 league games they have played, the Red and Whites have only won six and lost nine. The total of 24 points currently means twelfth place. The lead over the first relegation place is only four points. The gap to the international places, on the other hand, has increased to nine points.
Sevilla with four home wins in a row
So far, the home side has lacked consistency in their performances. A stabilisation can now be seen in the home games. The last four home matches against Getafe (2:1), Cadiz (1:0), Elche (3:0) and Mallorca (2:0) were all won – with only one goal conceded. The picture is completely different away from home. Here, the Andalusians could not win any of the last five games. This is enough to pull them away from the bottom of the table, but it is not enough to launch an attack on the top places.
The attacking forces have only scored 23 goals. That is the twelfth best figure in La Liga. Torres, En-Nesyri, Lamela and Mir each scored three times. A real goal scorer is missing. In recent years, Sevilla’s flagship has been its defence. But this season there hasn’t been much of that strength left. We have already conceded 29 goals. In the whole of last season, the number of goals conceded was just one more.
Only third place in the CL group stage
In the Champions League, the hosts finished third in Group G behind Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund. Only FC Copenhagen left the Sampaoli eleven behind. But the Andalusians have often proved that they can win the Europa League. They have won the title, including its predecessor the UEFA Cup, six times – most recently in 2020.
Last games of Sevilla:
La Liga
12/02/2023 – Sevilla FC 2 – 0 Mallorca
06/02/2023 – FC Barcelona 3 – 0 FC Sevilla
29/01/2023 – Sevilla FC 3 – 0 Elche
Copa del Rey
26/01/2023 – Osasuna Pamplona 2 – 1 Sevilla FC
La Liga
22/01/2023 – Sevilla FC 1 – 0 Cadiz
PSV Eindhoven – Statistics & current form
After three runners-up titles in a row, they are looking to hit the big time again this year. With Ruud van Nistelrooy, a new coach was introduced at the beginning of the season. But the competition this year is fierce. The Dutch Eredivisie is extremely tight.
PSV have won thirteen and drawn three of their first 21 games. In total, the Rood-Witten have 42 points, which is currently enough for fourth place in the table. But the gaps are very small. There are just six points between the league leaders Feyenoord Rotterdam and Twente Enschede in fifth place. That promises an exciting second half of the season.
PSV with strong offensive power
The Boers have impressed with their offensive performances so far. PSV have already scored 55 times. This is the second best figure behind Ajax, who have scored 59 times so far. The best scorer is Xavi Simons with ten goals. Due to the offensive orientation, the defence is somewhat neglected. After all, keeper Walter Benitez has already had to keep the ball out of his own box 25 times. That does not mean a top ranking for the red and whites in this statistic.
Coach van Nistelrooy’s team can look back on successful weeks since the winter break. Of the last nine competitive matches, only the game in Emmen was lost 0:1. The club won three of the last five games in the championship and in the cup the Red and Whites are in the quarter-finals. The away record gives no reason for optimism. The last three away matches were all not won – not good prerequisites for the trip to Spain.
Eindhoven with second place in the group phase
In the Europa League group stage Eindhoven had to deal with the Gunners, Bodö/Glimt from Norway and FC Zurich. Four victories and a total of thirteen points were claimed and with fifteen goals the most in the group were scored. In the end, this meant second place behind the English. It was enough to make it to the sixteenth finals. Here the Andalusians, strong at home, now await the Rood-Witten. In the match Sevilla vs. PSV Eindhoven the odds are currently at 3.20 for bets on the guests.
Last matches of PSV Eindhoven:
Eredivisie
12/02/2023 – PSV Eindhoven 6 – 0 FC Groningen
KNVB Cup
09/02/2023 – PSV Eindhoven 3 – 1 Emmen
Eredivisie
05/02/2023 – Fey. Rotterdam 2 – 2 PSV Eindhoven
28/01/2023 – PSV Eindhoven 2 – 0 Go Ahead Eagles
25/01/2023 – Emmen 1 – 0 PSV Eindhove
Sevilla – PSV Eindhoven Direct comparison / H2H record
This Thursday is the first meeting between Sevilla and PSV. Actually surprising, since both clubs are regularly represented in international competitions. But the luck of the draw has so far prevented a duel. For the first match between Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven, the predictions of the betting companies point to a success for the hosts, who want to establish a good starting position for the second leg.
Sevilla – PSV Eindhoven Tip
Two prestigious clubs meet for the first time in the sixteenth final of the Europa League. In recent weeks, the Andalusians have stabilised, at least on home turf, winning their last four home games. The defensive line seems to have found its old strength and only conceded one goal. But with the offensively strong guests from Eindhoven, the men in front of goalkeeper Bono will now face a real test.
PSV’s strength lies in their dangerous attacking line, which has scored the second most goals in the league. However, the Dutch side have shown some weaknesses away from home in recent games, where they are winless in three matches. In the group phase, the Red and Whites won in both Switzerland and Norway. Can they achieve the next coup in Andalusia?
From our point of view, it will be decisive whether the Spanish back line can control the offensive strength of the visitors. In the 6-0 win against Groningen last Saturday, Simons & Co. warmed up for the upcoming opponent. We trust them to be successful on Thursday as well.
The hosts will have to start with a win to put themselves in a good position for the second leg. The visitors’ slight away weakness may open up the relevant opportunities for the Andalusians here. Alternatively, we will place a small bet on a home win in the match between Sevilla and PSV Eindhoven at odds of 1.60 – secured by a “Draw-No-Bet”.
