Sevilla Vs Elche
Sevilla Vs Elche Friday 11 February, 2022 – 20:00 (GMT)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Elche +1.5 Asian Handicap
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Unibet
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 8 February 2022)
Preview: Keeping pace at the top of La Liga is proving troublesome for Sevilla, who have drawn three league games on the spin ahead of Friday’s meeting with Elche. The latter have a poor record in this fixture, though, losing on all three league visits since 2014.
Spanish La Liga Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Sevilla – Lopetegui’s charges wilting under the pressure?
Hopes of a first league title since 1946 are fading in Seville after a third successive La Liga stalemate last time versus Osasuna left them six points adrift of leaders Real Madrid. As if to make matters all the more frustrating, Ivan Rakitic spurned a golden opportunity to steal all three points – and it would have been daylight robbery having created a paucity of chances from open-play – when his late penalty was saved.
That is now four draws in six in La Liga for Julen Lopetegui’s side, whose last win came at home to Getafe in early January – a week later they were eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Andalusian rivals Real Betis. So this has been a period to forget for Los Nervionenses. Along with Real Madrid though, Sevilla are still to lose a home league fixture in 2021-22, registering 27 of 33 points (W8 D3) at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.
Key Stat: Sevilla are currently unbeaten in their last nine La Liga matches (W5 D4), with this being the longest active unbeaten run in the division. During this period, though, all but two matches saw fewer than three goals.
Elche – Los Franjiverdes unbeaten in five and on the rise?
While a lot can still happen between now and the end of the season, it is looking increasingly more likely that Elche will extend their stay in Spain’s top tier into a third straight term. Barcelona (7) and Friday’s opponents Sevilla (9) are currently the only sides enjoying longer unbeaten league runs than the five of Los Franjiverdes, whose recent victory at home Alaves made it three wins in four.
There has also been an upshot in productivity in attack. Eight goals have come from their last four league games alone, netting at least twice in five of the last eight. This includes each of their last three away from home. A run that started with a spirited display in a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou and culminated with a memorable, if admittedly fortuitous, 2-2 draw at Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid.
Key Stat: Elche have scored in eight of the last nine league games and all of their last six away from home. They are seeking to score two or more for the fourth consecutive away La Liga game.
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Sevilla Vs Elche Betting Advice
Is the pressure of staying in the La Liga title race taking its toll on Sevilla? Recent results, drawing each of their last three games, would suggest this has been the case. Even more disconcerting for manager Julen Lopetegu will have been the performances. Since losing 2-1 away to leaders Real Madrid on 28 November, Sevilla have admirably remained unbeaten in nine league outings despite averaging just 0.85 xGF.
Sevilla Vs Elche – Key Facts:
- Elche held Sevilla to a 1-1 draw when the sides met earlier in the season, a game Sevilla will feel they should have won after creating more and better chances (xG: ELC 0.63 – 2.19 SEV).
- When at home, though, Sevilla have won the last three La Liga meetings, the last two of which were ‘to nil’. However, Elche are in excellent scoring form, netting at least twice in three successive away league games.
- Sevilla bring a nine-game unbeaten league run into Friday’s encounter. However, they are one of just two teams – the other being Barcelona – on a longer active unbeaten run in La Liga than Elche (5).
One team which hasn’t been found wanting for goals of late is Elche. Francisco’s resurgent men are flying. Unbeaten in five (W3 D2), they are now closer to the top-half than the La Liga relegation zone, scoring as many in four matches as Sevilla managed across their last seven even though the latter are 21 points better off. All of which suggests Friday’s guests can improve upon a dismal recent record at this venue.
Best Betting Odds – Sevilla Vs Elche
Sevilla – 2/5 (Bet365)
Draw – 18/5 (Betfair)
Elche – 8/1 (WilliamHill)
