Unai Emery returns to his old love
There was no matchday on the agenda in Spain during the week, but there were the first appearances in the Spanish King’s Cup. There was a lot of rotation against the lower-ranked teams in order to give the regular players a well-deserved break. The load could thus be controlled well and fatigue must not be an issue at the weekend in LaLiga. A very interesting match will take place in Andalusia. In the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, Sevilla and Villarreal will face each other.
Two teams that are considered to be extremely strong, but nevertheless currently move in completely different spheres of the table. The Europa League has been their hobbyhorse for years and they have celebrated great successes here. This can be attributed to a certain Unai Emery for both teams. For the current Villarreal coach, the game in Andalusia represents a return and will be accordingly special. According to the current betting odds, Sevilla are the clear favourites against Villarreal. An assessment that is quite justified, given the recent performances of both teams.
Sevilla present their usual home strength, while the yellow submarine can’t get going this season and is a big disappointment. Playfully attractive, but the output often leaves much to be desired. In twelfth place, Villarreal currently find themselves in no-man’s land in the table. Saturday afternoon’s match kicks off at 2pm.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
In the top match of matchday 15, the Andalusians suffered a bitter and unfortunate 2-1 defeat at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu last weekend. The gap between them and the royals is now eight points, although Lopetegui’s side still have a catch-up game at home against FC Barcelona to look forward to.
Convincing home record
Speaking of home games, the red and whites from Sevilla are in excellent form. The first five games at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium this season ended in victory for the home side. This winning streak was broken in the last home match against Deportivo Alaves. In the 2-2 draw, Sevilla had to consider themselves lucky to gain a point, as the equaliser only came in the 92nd minute of the game. However, a 5-1-0 record is extremely convincing and accordingly the role of favourites in the home match against former coach Unai Emery is certainly justified.
Sevilla almost always scores
Personnel-wise, the Champions League contender will still have to do without striker Youssef En-Nesyri. As a result, hopes are once again pinned on Rafa Mir (five goals) in the centre of attack, with the newcomer also scoring against Real Madrid.
In general, Sevilla score at least once in almost every game. The 1-0 win in the Copa del Rey against fourth-division FC Cordoba was already their 20th competitive match in 2021/22 and the 17th time they scored at least one goal. As the visitors are also very playful and offensively strong, a prediction on goals for both teams in Sevilla against Villarreal is a good idea.
Predicted Sevilla line-up:
Bono – Acuna, Diego Carlos, Kounde, Montiel – Rakitic, Fernando Reges, Jordan – Papu Gomez, Mir, Ocampos
Last matches played by Sevilla:
Copa del Rey
12/01 2021 – Cordoba 0 – 1 Sevilla
LaLiga
11/28 2021 – Real Madrid 2 – 1 Sevilla
Champions League Grp. G
11/23 2021 – Sevilla 2 – 0 Vfl Wolfsburg
LaLiga
11/20 2021 – Sevilla 2 – 2 Deportivo Alaves
11/07 2021 – Real Betis 0 – 2 Sevilla
Villarreal – Statistics & current form
In individual sports, it is often seen that players often fall into a hole after a great success and are unable to repeat that performance. This is rarer in football, but absolutely apt for the Villarreal yellow sub in the 2021/22 season.
Hopeful Gerard Moreno
Winning the UEFA Europa League title was the biggest achievement in the club’s history for the team from the tranquil town of Vilarreal and tantamount to a return to the UEFA Champions League.
But so far, Emery’s team just can’t get going, which can be attributed to several factors. In certain situations, there is a lack of looseness, and the absence of Gerard Moreno in recent weeks could not be compensated for. The Spanish team striker was absent due to a torn muscle, but made his comeback in the 8-0 Copa del Rey win and got on the scoresheet straight away. His LaLiga return is eagerly awaited.
In last week’s match against FC Barcelona, the yellow submarine also played well and had countless top opportunities, but VAR bad luck (on a handball) and an individual mistake (Estupinian) sealed the defeat. The attack is scoring regularly again and gets even more penetrating power with the Moreno return, but the defence lacks stability. So betting on both teams to score is a good option for Sevilla against Villarreal.
Nine points less than last year
The bottom line is that Villarreal were beaten for the fourth time this season and remain in no-man’s land in the standings. Twelfth place in the table with 16 points means a minus of nine points compared to last season. Only in the relegation year 2011/12 and the disaster year 2018/19 did Villarreal have fewer points after 14 games.
Predicted Villarreal line-up:
Rulli – Pedraza, Pau Torres, Albiol, Foyth – Alberto Moreno, Parejo, Capoue, Pino – Gerard Moreno, Danjuma
Last matches played by Villarreal:
Copa del Rey
11/30 2021 – Victoria CF 0 – 8 Villarreal FC
LaLiga
11/27 2021 – Villarreal FC 1 – 3 Barcelona
Champions League Grp. F
11/23 2021 – Villarreal FC 0 – 2 Manchester United
LaLiga
11/20 2021 – Celta Vigo 1 – 1 Villarreal FC
11/07 2021 – Villarreal FC 1 – 0 Getafe
Sevilla – Villarreal Direct Comparison / H2H Balance
Bacca celebrations against his ex-club came in the last meeting between the two teams. In the 2020/21 season finale, on the penultimate matchday to be precise, Colombian Carlos Bacca emerged as the match-winner in Villarreal’s favour with a hat-trick. The yellow submarine has thus won three of the last five LaLiga games against the Andalusians, while Sevilla have only come out on top once. That, however, was in the last encounter at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium; overall, the Andalusians have shown the longer staying power against Villarreal in 12 of their 19 home games so far in the Spanish top flight.
Sevilla – Villarreal Tip
There is a deciding match for both teams in the battle for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League away from home next week. However, not much rotation is possible on Saturday, because the league game is extremely important. Sevilla don’t want to lose sight of the royals from Madrid, Villarreal have to fight for the connection to the upper half of the table.
The yellow submarine has drawn five of its seven away games so far, so this prediction is worth a try between Sevilla and Villarreal.
Betting on a draw, however, always involves a certain amount of risk. Better chances of success with interesting odds are to bet that both teams will score. Two teams with strong play that are looking for the way forward. Goals should therefore be seen in any case, six units are recommended as a stake for this bet.
