Sevilla vs Valladolid
Pablo Machin has one thing in mind when Real Valladolid visit the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium this weekend…three points.
A win is all he asks, but there’s potentially a place at the top of La Liga up for grabs if his side delivers. Sevilla are just a point behind Barcelona at the top of the Primera Liga, but it’s rather congested in the top six, with four points separating Barca and Real Madrid in sixth. In fact, only one point separates the top four, and Alaves have the chance to go top first when they visit Madrid to face Leganes in the curtain raiser.
Sevilla have a tough enough task, though. Real Valladolid coach Sergio Gonzalez has made his team hard to beat on their return to La Liga, and only Atletico Madrid’s legendary defence has conceded fewer than the nine goals that have beaten the Valladolid rearguard, so this game is no pushover.
Talking Points
Sevilla in the leading pack
If results go with Sevilla this weekend, they could return to the top of La Liga. Barcelona are away to Atletico Madrid, and anything other than a win for the champions, in the most difficult of away fixtures, will open the door for Pablo Machin’s team.
The La Liga 2018 odds currently pitch Sevilla as fourth favourites to win the title, behind the champions and the two Madrid giants, but there is an attacking threat combined with steel in Machin’s team which could take them far. Up front, Wissam Ben Yedder is in a hot streak of form and scored a last-gasp winner in Sevilla’s recent victory over high-flying Espanyol. He has six for the season now, one fewer than his strike partner Andre Silva who is impressing for both club and his country, Portugal.
That is a partnership with more than enough potential to test the meanest of defences, but they’ll have to do it without the creative spark of the injured Jesus Navas. And in the middle of the park, Ever Banega and Pablo Sarabia are class acts. Banega might keep referee Carlos del Cerro Grande on his toes: the Argentine has already picked up four yellow cards this season, equalled by Valladolid defender Nacho Martinez.
La Pucela prepares for a long stay in La Liga
Valladolid have bounced up and down between the first and second tiers of Spanish football over the past two decades and held their own on the latest return to the top flight. The newcomers even had their moments in a 2-0 reversal at the hands of Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Sergio Gonzalez’s team is leading ‘the best of the rest’ at the moment, in seventh place and three points behind Real Madrid in sixth.
La Pucela have the inspiration of former Brazil great Ronaldo, who became the majority shareholder of the newly promoted club in summer with a €30m investment. He knows La Liga inside out, having played as a striker for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Sevilla scored the second highest number of goals in the league but they’ll have to get past Fernando Calero and Joaquin Fernandez alongside the combative Martinez and the last line of defence is Jordi Masip. Sure, Sevilla have firepower but this group of players concedes less than a goal a game.
History
After a slow start to the campaign, Sevilla showed impressive consistency and haven’t lost in six games. However, the hosts must be careful. Before losing 2-0 to Real Madrid, Valladolid had back-to-back away wins against Mallorca and Real Betis.
And the head-to-heads are pretty even, with Sevilla winning eight and Valladolid six of the 26 matches contested since 1993.
The last meeting, back in 2014, was a convincing 4-1 victory for Sevilla, but they may have to work a little harder this time.
Betting tip
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Sevilla vs Real Valladolid | Sevilla First Half 1X2 @1.92 |
| November 25, 23:15 (GMT+8) |
The hosts are hot favourites to win this game at short odds of 1.40 with SBOBET, while the draw is at 4.10 and Real Valladolid are available at 9.00.
Sergio has his defence very well organised but Sevilla have two marksmen, Silva and Ben Yedder, in red-hot form. Sevilla will have the lion’s share of the ball and should spend most of the game in Valladolid’s half, and I can’t see the visitors holding out until the break. If they do, then we may have a surprise in store.
But, dependant on the La Liga 2018 results over the weekend, we could see Sevilla at the summit of La Liga…and that would be a nice bonus for Pablo.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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