La Liga: Sevilla Reset Their Goals

Sevilla FC vs Granada

The weekend’s La Liga action opens up with a fascinating curtain-raiser on Friday night when top four hopefuls Sevilla take on relegation-threatened Granada.

Julen Lopetegui’s Sevilla have fallen off the pace in recent weeks, succumbing to Barcelona on Sunday night and that defeat has left have their Champions League place under threat. Los Sevillistas currently sit fourth in the league table but only four points above Real Betis and six above Real Sociedad.

Meanwhile, Ruben Gonzalez’s Granada have problems of their own since they’re in the thick of a relegation battle as the season nears its close.

They picked up a point in a 2-2 home draw with Rayo Vallecano and that nudged them three points clear of the drop, but they still need another six or seven points from the last eight games to survive.

It promises to be a fiercely contested clash in the hotbed of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium – the perfect way to start the weekend.

Talking Points

Shot-shy Sevilla must be brave

The La Liga 2022 betting odds have long since written off Los Sevillistas as potential title winners, which must be is a real frustration for a side which has tracked Los Blancos more closely than any over the past 12 months.

But Sevilla have given way to both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in recent weeks and a trip to the Camp Nou to face a resurgent Blaugrana was the last place they wanted to go in the previous round of games.

An alarming lack of goals stopped Sevilla’s challenge in its tracks. And against the Catalans, Erik Lamela and Anthony Martial were isolated by Barca’s high-pressing game and their own teammates lack of creativity. Sevilla were unable to break through the Barcelona midfield and their wing-backs played in a deep position far too often, while Ivan Rakitic was virtually invisible.

In the centre of defence, Jules Kounde has been commanding and he has benefited from the return of Diego Carlos, which allows Lopetegui to push Nemanja Gudelj forward into his natural position in midfield.

When they faced Real Sociedad at home Sevilla still had hopes of staying with Los Blancos and cementing their second place, but then they drew a blank with no shots on target.

If they are to turn around their La Liga 2022 results quickly, Los Sevilliastas need to be brave and turn possession into goals to break a sequence of one goal in six games.

Rafa Mir has been the most successful striker with eight strikes. And in the absence of the injured Papu Gomez, he is the man Sevilla will look to get the goals flowing again.

Granada aiming for long-term recovery

Following a ninth-place finish in the 2020/21 campaign, Granada were hoping for another Top 10 season, but they have been stuck in a relegation scrap for much of the campaign.

Things are looking up, though, as four points from two games has given Los Nazaries some breathing space. They won their last away game 3-2 against Deportivo Alaves and then were a little fortunate to pick up a point at home to Vallecano.

At 2-0 up, Alaves were coasting, but when Santiago Comesana was red carded with 40 minutes to play the game turned. 39-year-old Jorge Molina scored his eighth goal of the campaign to half the deficit, before Luis Milla converted a penalty deep into stoppage time.

Sevilla will need to keep an eye on 22-year-old winger Alex Collado, who’s on loan from Barcelona, and Colombian striker Luis Suarez who has scored seven goals and made three assists.

History

Sevilla have won 12 of the last 21 encounters, drawing two and losing seven. Granada won the last meeting, a 1-0 victory on matchday eight as Yangel Herrera scored the only goal of the game.

But despite their relative positions in the league, Granada’s recent form is slightly better than Sevilla’s – winning two, drawing two, and losing two of the last six games, while Sevilla have won just one, drawn three, and lost the two.

But Los Sevillistas have been superb at home this season, winning 10 and drawing four of their 14 games at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

Betting Tip

At SBOTOP odds of 1.38, Sevilla really should get back on track, while the draw is 4.36 and Granada at a price of 7.33.

The hosts have been terribly short on confidence and goals, but I think they will find their feet sooner or later and this is a big opportunity at home against a side which went 2-0 down within 20 minutes last week.

 

●●●

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS

Stay updated with everything sports and betting.

Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.