Sevilla vs Athletico Madrid

22/3- In a battle for the fourth place on the points table Sevilla get ready this week to play hosts to Athletico Madrid who are currently the occupants of the fourth spot on the points table and are a couple of points ahead of Sevilla. Both teams are in tremendous form but Sevilla are performing better looking at the last 10 matches played by both sides this season. In the last 10 matches played Sevilla have managed to win 7 while lost 2 and drawn one match on the other hand their opponents have managed just 4 victories while have lost 5 times and also have a single drawn match.  The last time both the teams clashed was earlier this season and playing at home Athletico Madrid were able to beat Sevilla with a 4-3 score line. But looking at the head to head record between the sides it can be clearly seen that Sevilla have been dominant as they have won 8 of the 21 matches played between the sides while Athletico have managed to win just 5.

Sevilla have been a great team while playing at home and beating them at home would not be easy for Athletico and hence the visitors might play for a draw but the home team would want to win this all important match. Sevilla would be pretty confident getting into the match as they managed to beat Valencia in an away tie last week. Fabiano is in ominous form and has already scored 22 goals this season and the home crowd would expect some more from his this weekend.

Athletico on the other hand would not want to concede their position to Sevilla they also come into this match after a win which was at home against Levante. A point from the match would be a good performance.

Prediction: 1-0, Sevilla win

Valencia vs Sevilla

15/3- Valencia have been the most unpredictable team in the Spanish competition and this team placed on the 10^th position gets ready to take on the sixth placed Sevilla this weekend. Valencia would be playing at home but looking at their record at home this season it can be said that they are on the wrong end as they have been the worst team when it comes to performances while playing at home. While Sevilla are fighting for the 4^th spot on the points table and a creditable finish this season, Valencia would be hoping to finish the season in the top half of the table. In their last match played earlier this season Sevilla were able to beat Valencia 3-0 while playing at home and hence they might hold a slight advantage over their opponents as they get into this match. However the overall record between both the sides in the past 15 years suggests that Valencia, traditionally has been the stronger team and of the 23 matches played they have managed to win 13 matches while there have been 4 draws.

Valencia have not been in the best of forms over the last ten matches and their record in recent performances can be considered to be below average. In the last 10 matches the side has played they have been able to win only twice while they have lost 4 and drawn 4. They come into this match after they were held to a 1-1 draw last week by a lower ranked Deportivo La Coruna in a home tie.

Sevilla on the other hand have been in great form and have managed to win 6 of the last 10 matches played and have lost just thrice. They come into the match after they were able to beat Levante while playing at home last week and would like to continue their winning performance.

Prediction: 1-2, Sevilla win

Sevilla vs Levante

9/3- Sevilla are placed seventh on the points table and look to be in good for, this week they get ready to take on the team at the bottom of the table. Levante. Sevilla have managed to keep up pace with the other teams in the top half of the table and would expect to score all the three points in this home tie against an opponent like Levante. They would like to get a big win under their belt so that they cannot only challenge the team above them but also ensure that they can continue the climb upwards. Sevilla would be quite confident about their chances as they have already defeated Levante earlier this season in an away tie. Also another encouraging fact for the home side is that in the five matches played between both the sides in the last 15 years Sevilla have managed to win all. With the home crowd supporting them the home team look set to continue their dominance over the comparatively lesser opponent. Sevilla are on a high after they were able to win their Champions League tie while playing at home last week and also the last match they played at home they were able to blank out Real Zaragoza with a 5-0 score line. With Fabiano in their side the home team also has the ability to score at will and the able support of kanoute would serve as the icing on the cake. Levante on the other hand have been impressive in the past few weeks and have gathered more points in the last 6 matches as compared to the rest of the season. Though their survival in the top league this year looks a distant dream a good performance can help them win many hearts and hold their heads high. Prediction: 2-0, Sevilla win.

Champions league: Sevilla vs. Fenerbahce

Sevilla play hosts to Fenerbahce on Tuesday evening in this second leg of the Champions League tie. They need to turn around a three goal to two deficit they picked up in the first leg in Turkey, so will have to be on top form here. Morale is high in the Spanish camp though, despite a surprise defeat away to struggling Deportivo de la Coruña at the weekend.

The defeat in Riazor means they missed their chance to end the week in a UEFA cup spot, but this shouldn’t really concern them too much as they are now five points from a Champions League place which is Sevilla’s main aim this season. If you take into account their disastrous start to the season, with the death of one of their most loved players (Antonio Puerta) Sevilla can be quite pleased with themselves.

Fenerbahce will be without the experience of Roberto Carlos in this match due to a leg injury he picked up in the first leg. This could be a deciding factor as Sevilla’s artillery will be set to attack the Turkish goal from the first minute and won’t let up for the ninety minutes. I think goals in this match are a dead cert, but Sevilla will really have to be careful of Fenerbahce’s counterattack. The Brazilian Luis Fabiano is really in form at the moment and is getting most of Sevilla’s goals. He is the current top scorer of La Liga and I would bet on him getting at least one here.

Since the first leg game Fenerbahce have played three matches and have not been able to get a win in any of them. They lost in their domestic cup competition away to Galatasaray, and in the league have lost one game and drawn the other.

I’m going for a Sevilla win here. They only need to score one goal and keep a clean sheet to go through, but I think we’ll see more than one goal here. Sevilla at home are a force to be reckoned with, and if they can go to Turkey and get two, then it should be more than possible for them to get two more at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Prediction: Home win (3-1)

Sevilla vs Real Zaragoza

23/2- Sevilla seem to have found the right combination in the last four matches and they have managed to win 3 while they had to settle for a draw against Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. They have managed to occupy the sixth spot and would want to better their performance as the season is moving towards its ending stages. In an attempt to probably make it for the European competitions next year they play hosts to Real Zaragoza this week. While the previous encounter between the two sides, earlier this season went in favour of Real Zaragoza, playing at home the overall record between the teams is even as both have won 8 matches of the 21 played between the sides in the past 15 years. The biggest concern for the visiting team will be their away form this season, though Zaragoza is on the 10^th spot as per the points it is the second worst performing team away from home with just a single victory and 7 losses.

Sevilla go into this match as a confident unit after they were able to beat Espanyol 2-4 in an away tie last week. Also the combination of Fabiano and Kanoute has worked tremendously well for them in the front. They are one of the best attacking sides in Laliga and are second in the number of goals scored this season only after the leaders, Real Madrid. They would have to concentrate on their defence but looking at their home record this season there would not be much to worry about for them.

Real Zaragoza on the other hand would be desperate for some points as they have not got any in the last two matches which they lost. Their last week’s home loss to Barcelona would have been highly disappointing and the side will try and get a point of this tie at least.

Prediction: 2-1, Sevilla win

Champions league: Fenerbahce vs. Sevilla

Turkish multimillionaire Aziz Yildirim has created in Fenerbahce a team worthy of taking the reins from Galatasaray and has made history as this is the first time Fenerbahce have qualified for the knock out stage of the Champions League. Their coach is the legendary Brazilian midfielder Zico, who has been allowed to do things his way and the side is fast becoming one to be feared by their opponents.

Sevilla travel to Turkey hoping to book a place in the last eight of the competition, but they will have to brave a hostile environment and some very good players if they want a good result here. The Spanish side will encounter some familiar faces, too. Roberto Carlos, who played for Real Madrid for ten years, seems to be having a great time of it in Turkey, and ex-Atlético Madrid striker Kezman is also getting minutes. The real star of the team though, is Brazilian Alex. He’s in red hot form and should prove very difficult for Sevilla to stop.

The Spaniards will be without central defender Javi Navarro and also the Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevantón, who was operated this week. The good news is that both Adriano and Keita are back from their one match suspension and will be available for this clash.

I’m going for a home victory in this first leg. Fenerbahce will be too strong I think for this Sevilla side that is always difficult to tell how they will play. Their terrible away record in the Spanish domestic league got a little better at the weekend with a solid four – two win over Espanyol, although the home side is now struggling to maintain their hold on the European spot. With that win Sevilla went up to sixth in La Liga and are now in a UEFA cup spot, but they will not be content with anything except finishing in the top four.  My money is on Fenerbahce then, but the tie won’t be settled in Turkey but in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in the return match.

Prediction: Home win (2-1)

Espanyol vs Sevilla

16/2- Espanyol are on a tipsy-topsy ride in terms of their point table fluctuations, they have been in the top half of the table since the season began but they have not been able to live up to the expectations from their matches. They are currently placed at the 5^th spot and are in a rat race for the third spot in the league. After a shocking home defeat last week they prepare to play hosts to Sevilla this week. Sevilla are placed 7^th on the points table but they are a side that has scored consistently and heavily against all opponents. Earlier this season when both the teams faced off, Sevilla had lost 2-3 to Espanyol playing at home and this would add to the confidence of Espanyol while playing at home.

Espanyol have won 4, lost 4 and drawn 2 in the last 10 matches which shows that their form is poor as compared to their opponents Sevilla who have won 6 of the last 10 matches while lost just 2 matches. Espanyol would want to get some points after the loss last week against Reacreativo Huelva and the fans would be looking at their leading striker Tamudo, who has scored 10 goals this season, to deliver for the side. Luis Garcia is another player who could bring the side out of trouble. The biggest boost for the home side is that their opponents are having a terrible season away from home and they have been able to win just a couple of matches away from home.

Sevilla on the other hand have drawn their last match while playing at home against Barccelona and that would be a great positive factor for the side. With Fabiano and Kanoute they have two wonderfully good strikers but what would count this time is their ability to score away from home.

Prediction: 1-1, draw

Sevilla vs Barcelona

9/2- Sevilla have struck gold and have regained their lost form and appear to be on a winning streak and have managed to score 6 points in the last two matches. But this streak could be brought to an end as they get prepared to take on second placed Barcelona at home this week. While Sevilla are trying to jump up the ranks on the table Barcelona would be trying to have the last throw of dice in order to try and challenge Real Madrid for the title. Sevilla are placed 7^th on the table and their performance at home has been great this season and they have won 8 of the 11 matches played at home this season where as their opponents Barcelona have not performed as well while playing abroad and that would be one thing that could go against them. The last time both the teams met was earlier this season and Barca managed a 2-1 victory playing at home.

Sevilla would be playing at home and would expect a strong crowd support and like the last time both teams met at this venue they would like a positive winning result. Fabiano and Kanoute have been the two most influential players in the team in terms of scoring goals and both would have to play their best football in order to ensure that the side is able to outscore the visiting Barca team in order to win the match.

Barcelona on the other hand would be hoping to close down the gap between them and Real Madrid and would hope that Real lose another match like they did last week so that the points difference is cut down to three. Messi and Henry would have to fire in case the second placed team is wanting to climb to the top of the table.

Prediction: 2-2, draw

Recreativo Huelva vs Sevilla

3/2- Reacreativo Huelva have been pushed into the relegation zone due to some disastrous performances in the past few weeks, they have not converted their chances and matches which could have been won have ended in losses and draws. They are placed on the 18^th position and after a loss at home against Getafe with a 1-3 margin last week, they get prepared to take on the visiting Sevilla team this time. Sevilla are placed on the 7^th position and have performed well this season. In the first half of the season when both the teams had faced each other the match had turned out to be a totally one sided affair as Sevilla won 4-1 at home. Sevilla on the other hand enter this match with good amount of confidence as they were able to beat Osasuna, 2-1 at home last week.  As a matter of fact Sevilla have never lost to Recreativo Huelva and of the 5 matches played, they have won 4 while a single match was drawn.

Recreativo Huelva would be hoping to get a good amount of home support to help them get out of the situation they are currently in. Camunas and Martins would be their force up front but their performance has not been up to the mark as the team has just managed 17 goals in the 21 matches which is the worst record this season only after Levante. They would look to at least get a point of this match as they would like to jump out of the relegation zone by steadily winning points on the field.

Sevilla on the other hand would want to register their second away win this season and there is no better opportunity that this as this would help them position themselves in a place to bid for the European championships the following year.

Prediction: 1-2, Sevilla win

Sevilla vs Osasuna

26/1- Sevilla return home after two terrible weeks away and dropping to the 9^th position on the points table they would aim to cover some lost ground when they take on the 14^th placed Osasuna in a home tie. Sevilla have been in tremendous home form this season and their touring form has looked equally bad and hence the two losses in the last two games would not be a huge shock as both were away games. In fact the last game they played was a very close encounter which they eventually lost against Getafe, Sevilla were edged out 3-2 in the away tie. Osasuna on the other side enter this match on a positive note after they managed to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home in the last match they played. A look at the history between the two clubs, Osasuna hold the upper hand however with regards to the matches played in Sevilla, the home team has won thrice while the visitors have registered a couple of victories.

Sevilla is one of the teams which has a great striking ability and they have scored 37 goals in the 20 matches played and this would possibly rank equal to the team placed third on the points table. Fabiano has been the scoring leader for the club and has already a tally of 13 goals, he has been receiving constant support from the likes of Kanoute, who also has transformed into the play maker for the side. With the support from the home crowd and a terrific home record, Sevilla would look to gain all the 3 points at hand.

Osasuna have not performed that badly away from home but there has been nothing special as well. The main focus for them would be to at least get a point of this draw and try and get to the top half ensuring a safe distance from the relegation zone.

Prediction: 2-1, Sevilla win.

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