Sevilla v Valencia Betting Tip 1 – 24 April 2014

Europa League Tips

Sevilla won this competition in successive years back in the 00’s under Juande Ramos and they will be hoping they can at least reach the final this time around. After a slow start to their domestic campaign, Sevilla have really started to find their form in the second half of the season. They come into this match having won seven of their last eight matches in all competitions. That single blemish was the defeat to Porto in the first leg quarter final tie which ultimately proved worthless as they went on to hammer the Portuguese club 4-1 in the return leg. With the anticipation of taking on another Spanish side in this round, Unai Emery and his players will take comfort from the fact that they have already saw off La Liga opponents in this competition after getting the better of Real Betis in a previous round.

It’s been a season of turmoil at times for Valencia fans as they have had to contend with numerous heavy defeats, a manager sacking and player unrest. Juan Antonio Pizzi was the man entrusted with getting their season back on track when he took over in December. He’s done that to some extent as they have consolidated in the top half of the table and have reached the semi-final of the Europa League. They’ve still not found that consistency which they have been used to for so long and that is evidenced by their recent run of form of just two wins from their last seven. They look set to finish outside of the European places in La Liga which means they will have to win this competition if they wish to participate in the Europa League next season.

Unai Emery was manager of Valencia for four years, leading them to the Champions’ League group stages twice as well as the quarter finals of this competition. He felt he was sacked unfairly and when you look at how much they have dropped since the two parted away, it’s easy to understand his point. His return to Spanish football hasn’t been all plain sailing but the signs are there that he is close to achieving something similar at Sevilla.

Valencia hold the upper hand in matches between these two sides this season. They won 3-1 at home back in September whilst they held out for a goalless draw when the two faced each other in Seville back in February, despite playing the majority of the second half with 10 men. Up until the 3-0 defeat in Switzerland against Basel in the last round, Valencia had won all five away games in the Europa League – they will be able to take great confidence from that.

Sevilla are on the crest of a wave at the moment, though, and they have huge momentum behind them. They will be roared on by a raucous home crowd and I strongly believe they will take a lead with them to the Mestalla next week.

Sevilla 8/11 @ William Hill