Villarreal Vs Sevilla
Villarreal Vs Sevilla Sunday, 8 May 2022 – 15:15 (BST)
Spanish La Liga
Pick: Draw
Odds: 12/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 6 May 2022)
Preview: Third travels to seventh in Round 35 of the 2021-22 La Liga season, as Sevilla seek to capitalise on any weariness in the home ranks following Villarreal‘s sapping midweek loss to Liverpool in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
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Table of Contents
Villarreal – Focus must shift towards top-six finish in La Liga?
Defying a two-goal aggregate deficit against arguably the best team on the continent right now was always likely to be a step too far for this Villarreal team, but they very nearly proved everybody wrong. Unai Emery and his players deserve huge credit not only for their performance in midweek but across the entirety of this season’s European campaign. However, it has come at the cost of their league form.
The Yellow Submarine reached the last four in Europe’s premier club competition but languish outside the European places in La Liga. They’ll have to bridge a four point gap on Real Sociedad just to qualify for the Europa Conference League. Unbeaten in the league as hosts since November (W7 D3), one has to wonder what this team has left in the tank after giving their all on Tuesday, particularly in that first-half.
Key Stat: Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat on the night (5-2 on aggregate) here at El Madrigal to Liverpool marked a third straight loss for Villarreal, as many losses as they had accrued in their 16 fixtures previous (W9 D4).
Sevilla – Looking good for at least fourth place?
A 1-1 home draw last time out against a Cadiz side only a point above the relegation places, in 16th, must have felt like a huge opportunity missed on the part of Sevilla to consolidate a place in the top four. Nevertheless it was a small step towards achieving what was always their primary objective this season: Champions League qualification. As would a positive outcome this Sunday at Villarreal.
With 12 points up for grabs, Los Nervionenses hold a six-point buffer over fifth place. However, this particular fixture does offer hope for the chasing pack. Sevilla managing a solitary win across six prior visits to El Madrigal (D2 L3), thumped 4-0 last season. Moreover, Julen Lopetegui’s men don’t travel at all well, failing to record a win in six successive La Liga away games before edging bottom side Levante 3-2 last time.
Key Stat: In their most recent La Liga away game, Sevilla scored three in victory over bottom side Levante. This was the first time Sevilla had netted more than once in an away league game since early November (failing to do so in previous nine such matches).
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Villarreal Vs Sevilla Betting Advice
This is actually a fascinating little contest. Both managers will recognise the importance of gaining a positive result from this fixture, though the situation is more pressing for Villarreal. The Yellow Submarine trail Real Sociedad by four points, with only 12 points left to play for, in the race for the final European berth. Whereas Sevilla are relatively comfortable in third but can all but wrap up a top four finish with victory.
Villarreal Vs Sevilla – Key Facts:
- Just the one goal was scored when the teams met earlier in the season, a game Sevilla won 1-0 courtesy of Lucas Ocampos’ 16th-minute strike.
- No team has played out more draws away from home in Spain’s top tier in 2021-22 than Sevilla, who have drawn 47% of their away fixtures thus far (W6 D8 L3).
- Villarreal haven’t lost a La Liga home game since November (W7 D3 thereafter). Meanwhile, seven of their ten wins as a host this season were ‘to nil’.
At the odds, a draw appeals. Villarreal’s midweek exertions could leave them running on steam for this. However, both Villarreal’s record in head-to-head clashes as the home side (one loss in last six such games: W3 D2 L1) and that of Sevilla away from home recently, with one away win in seven (D5 L1), makes it difficult to pinpoint an obvious winner. Moreover, no side has drawn more La Liga away games than Sevilla (8).
Best Betting Odds – Villarreal Vs Sevilla
Villarreal – 13/10 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 12/5 (Bet365)
Sevilla – 11/5 (WilliamHill)
