La Liga: These Two Love a Good Battle

Sevilla vs Villarreal

If you like to see a hot-tempered clash full of passion and fury, not to mention a handful of goals, then the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is the place to head this weekend.

It’s La Liga Sevilla vs Villarreal in the second match of the 2018/19 La Liga season. And if last season’s meetings are anything to go by, then we’re in for a battle royal! Two spicy affairs gave us nine goals and three red cards, so if you fancy a quiet evening then it’s probably best to stay away from Seville.

This really is a clash to get the pulse racing, two good teams which were well-matched last season and with Champions League aspirations. This year, they’ll have to settle for the Europa League as Villarreal finished fifth to Sevilla’s seventh. Sevilla made the better start this time out, winning their opener, while the Yellow Submarine will be determined to avoid back-to-back defeats.

Talking Points

Last season’s seventh-place finish has meant that Sevilla are already well into their season, playing the Europa League qualifying rounds, not to mention a 1-2 Super Cup defeat to champions Barcelona.

A nine-match winless run in the spring put paid to Sevilla’s hopes of a top-four place last year, and new coach Pablo Machin has arrived with the task of rectifying that. After an impressive spell at Girona, winning promotion to the Premier Division in 2017 and following that up with a tenth-place finish, he has made a strong start at his new club.

Europa League results have been good, and Sevilla had a thumping 1-4 away win at newly promoted Rayo Vallecano in the league opener with Andre Silva grabbing the headlines with an opening-day hat-trick on his debut.

Can Andre Silva repeat his stunning hat-trick in the La Liga Sevilla vs VIllareal? — Andre Silva along with Pablo Sarabia celebrates scoring their first goal

The 22-year-old Portugal international arrived from AC Milan and has already outscored his Serie A 2017/18 season tally when he hit the target twice in 24 appearances. But with a start like that, his confidence will be sky-high.

The Sevilla vs Villarreal odds say Los Rojiblancos should make it two wins out of two, and home advantage may make the difference. Only the best sides pick up a result at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and alongside Silva, ex-Manchester City star Jesus Navas will provide an attacking threat.

Skipper Nicolas Pareja is very doubtful to start at the weekend and, in his absence, influential midfielder Ever Banega will play a pivotal role. The Argentina international has been a target for former boss Unai Emery as he begins to build his own team at Arsenal, but for now, he’s staying put.

Finishing fifth last season means Villarreal start the Europa League in the group stages, but they looked a little undercooked in their league opener at the Estadio de la Ceramico. It all looked pretty good for the Yellow Submarine when Gerard Moreno fired in a beauty, on his debut, to make it 1-0 early in the game against Real Sociedad, but goals from Willian Jose and Juanmi made it a losing start.

The big La Liga surprise of World Cup 2018 was Villarreal striker Denis Cheryshev who scored twice in the tournament curtain-raiser and hit the target in three of Russia’s five games. But he has been shipped out on loan to Valencia after Javier Calleja has strengthened his front line considerably over the summer, notably with the loan signing of Milan star Carlos Bacca, with an option to buy in 2019. Sunday’s opponents Sevilla were keen on Bacca, but the Yellow Submarine moved swiftly to get the Colombian striker’s signature.

Carlos Bacca hopes to win against his former club in the La Liga Sevilla vs VIllareal clash — Carlos Bacca in action during World Cup 2018

Cedric Bakambu looks likely to partner Bacca up front as the season progresses, and there is more good news for Villarreal fans as 33-year-old Santi Cazorla has signed a one year deal with an option to extend. The ex-Arsenal man could be a potent creative force for the Yellow Submarine.

History

Sevilla have become a big European hit recently with great Europa League success under current Arsenal head coach Emery, winning that competition three times on the run from 2014 to 2016. They also won La Liga back in 1946, but have had more success in the cups, winning the Europa League a total of five times and matching that with five Copa del Rey wins.

The Yellow Submarine have a more modest heritage, making the semi-finals of the Europa league in 2016 and was La Liga runners-up in 2008. But Villarreal have become La Liga stalwarts, just dipping out of the top flight on two occasions since the turn of the century, and finishing in the top seven in all but one of the last 13 seasons.

There were goals galore in this head-to-head last season; a 2-2 draw in Seville and a 2-3 away win for Sevilla. And the overall Sevilla vs Villarreal results are also in favour of Machin’s team with 22 wins to nine with and 11 draws.

Betting Tip

	Sevilla vs Villareal	Sevilla, Asian Handicap -0.75 @1.99
	August 27, 04:15 (GMT+8)

The hosts are well into their stride and looked confident in their opening fixture with new boy Silva having a ball. Villarreal are slightly shorter at 1.94 with that +0.75 goal advantage, but they looked a little rusty last week and the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan is a tough place to visit.

Take a look at the SBOBET odds for some more options. Under 2.75 goals is available at 1.93 while Over is at 1.97. Both teams have plenty of firepower and three goals look likely to me.

And if the hosts get off to a flyer, then a double bet on Home (half time) and Home (full time) could work at 2.37.