Getafe vs Sevilla

19/1- Sevilla have been one of the better and most attacking team in LaLiga this season their ability to score a high number of goals ahs kept them in the top half of the table. They are just a couple of positions away from a European cup spot and are a point behind Valencia, they would be hoping to make the most of the lost form of Valencia and climb further up the table. Getafe, the home team, have been struggling all throughout the season, placed 15^th on the points table they are just a point above the relegation zone. The biggest advantage for Getafe will be that their opponents, Sevilla, have a terrible record while travelling and have been only able to win one of the 9 matches played away from home this season and have lost as many as 6 matches. Looking at the current form Sevilla have won 3 of their last 5 matches while Getafe have managed just a single victory accompanied by 4 losses in the last 5 matches.

Sevilla enter this match after they lost their match against Athletic Bilbao last week and would be expecting to get their second away win of the season when they visit Getafe. In Fabiano they have one of the finest strikers in the Spanish league. Alves is another player who can deliver a big performance for the club and provide the strikers set pieces to score from. They also will be aware of the fact that Getafe have lost their last two matches playing at home. The factor that the side would expect to be on their side this time is the luck which they have been missing for some time now.

Getafe are the home side and they would be aware that the opponents are quite a strong team, their efforts would be to get at least a point of this game so that they can possibly move away from the relegation zone.

Prediction: 1-2, draw

Sevilla vs Real Betis

6/1- Sevilla have shown respectable for in this season’s performance but with the kind of potential they have 8^th position seems to be too low for their liking. Their performance in Europe this season has been very good and they have won 3 Champions League matches in a row and one of them against Arsenal. Their performance pre break was also satisfying as they managed to pull out a win every now and then and they were the last club in the Spanish league to defeat Real Madrid. Their opponents on the other hand are the visiting Real Betis, placed 17^th on the league table Real Betis has just started making their move towards the end of the first half and have won 2 of the last 3 matches played and the third one being a draw.

 

The history about matches between the clubs gives fairly equal results as Sevilla has won 6 times while Real Betis has won 5 times. The last match played by the home team was against Racing Santander at home and Sevilla ensured a 4-1 drubbing of the visiting team. Fabiano would be returning after missing a game and the striker’s form has been sublime along with him Sevilla also have the ever reliable Kanoute who has scored 8 times already. Along with all the talent and the striking ability, the strong home crowd will also play a part and anything less than 3 points would be an under achievement for the club.

 

Real Betis on the other hand have improved a lot in their last few games and would be looking for, at least a point of this away tie and for this the form of Pavonne would play a highly significant and determining role. But Sevilla would make this as difficult as possible for the visitors even to score a single point.

 

Prediction: 2-0, Sevilla win

Sevilla vs Racing Santander

22/12- A suspension struck Sevilla would be taking on 6th placed Racing Santander in this top half tie. While Sevilla managed a struggling draw last week against Valladolid after two red card suspensions, Santander are coming off a 2-1 loss to the much lower ranked Murcia in an away tie. However the advantage Racing will have is that Sevilla’s most prolific scorer this season, Fabiano, was red carded in the last game and hence would have to miss this home game due to suspension. Fazio, the other suspension last week would be missing in defense and Navarro is already our of contention. Hence Racing will enter this match with Sevilla handicapped in the fromt end as well as their back end.

Sevilla would be counting on the support they would get from the home fans as well as their attacking forward Kanoute, even though he has not scored the highest number of goals for the club this season, his tally stands at an impressive 7 goals, which in fact is better than any of the Racing strikers. Another thing they can capitalize on is Racing Santander’s away record as Racing Santander have lost their last two matches traveling and it would be like a psychological pressure on them. Also on past head to head records, Sevilla leads Santander winning 8 of the 18 encounters with 7 being draws.

Racing on the other hand would like to see this as a perfect opportunity to stabilize their 6th spot as Sevilla is a depleted side. Another good thing about Racing this season has been that they have not been too dependent on one payer and that is probably the reason why the highest number of goals scored by a player is just 4, this also proves their defensive strength and in the absence of Fabiano they should not be highly troubled. They have lost their last match but would surely like to make up for that loss now.

Prediction: 1-2, Racing win

Valladolid vs Sevilla

16/12- Just a couple of spots above the relegation zone Valladolid seem to have some momentum on their side even though they have lost their last game against Almeria, 3 of their 4 victories this season have come in the last 5 matches. They have been going through a decent run and will be ready to take on 9th placed Sevilla at home. Sevilla has been prolific in scoring as well as conceding goals this season and last week’s home win over Murcia would add to their confidence. But with the home crowd with Valladolid the visiting team can face an uphill task.

 

Sevilla have one of the best strikers this season in the form of Fabiano who has scored 10 goals this season and has been ably supported by Kanoute. Unfortunately for them however is that goal keeper Palop has a fractured hand and will be missing for mearly 90 days. Another thing that counts against the club is that they have registered just a single victory and a single draw away from home this season meaning that just 4 points of 7 games and this shows the reason they are not in the top 5-6 teams even though they have a great home record.

 

Valladolid on the other hand would be hoping that they can continue the some kind of form they have gained in the past month or so and Gutirrez and Llorente can possibly at least have one effort converted. Now that the side is out of the relegation zone they will be looking to consolidate on their position before planning to move towards the top half of the points table. The match might be decided by a solitary goal as otherwise both the sides look evenly balanced considering the fact that it is an away game for Sevilla and a home tie for Valladolid.

 

Prediction: 1-2, Sevilla win

       

Sevilla vs Murcia

9/12- Sevilla are a team that is raging in Europe but when it comes to competing in the home league they have been struggling. Sevilla were expected to convert their win over Arsenal in the European competition into a stepping stone at home however on return to Spanish league they have managed only a loss and a draw and this leaves them at 12^th in the points table. Playing the first time at home after the success against Arsenal, Sevilla  would be happy to take on a struggling Murcia and use this match to regain some form and a better position in the league.

 

Murcia on the other have just managed just one win away from home this season and will be expecting a fully charged Sevilla to be waiting for them. Baiano, the big Murcia sign has not been able to prove his worthiness to the club as of yet. Moreover the visitors will also be playing without Alonso, Pablo Garcia and Torres and this will add to their disability of winning outside their home. Murcia will also be under pressure as they are just a couple of points above the relegation zone, a place where no team would like to be. They would be hoping for a change of fortune as well and would be thinking that is Sevilla continue the vulnerable Laliga form they might just have inside chance of getting some valuable points.

 

The home team will be happy to see the likes of Alves and Drago back in the team and would be hoping that their presence can strengthen the defense and help out the striking force move forward with ease. Fabiano has bee amazing this season and has managed 8 goals for the club and is also one of the highest goal scorers this season in Laliga.

 

Prediction: 2-0, Sevilla win

Champions league: Sevilla vs. Arsenal

Sevilla play hosts to Group H leaders Arsenal hoping their unfortunate league form won’t follow them to the Champions League. The Spanish side are out for revenge after losing in London on the opening day of the competition by three goals to nil, and being made to look like complete novices in the process. Since that game Sevilla have improved, but are still having some unlucky games. They aren’t playing that badly but seem to have problems concentrating at key points. The home defeat at the hands of Mallorca at the weekend is a perfect example. They should have won, as they are the better team in front of their home crowd, and for the better part of the game did play better. But they ended up losing by two goals to one and slipped even further away form the top of La Liga.

Arsenal aren’t having any of those problems, however. Their form is becoming increasingly solid, and this was proved by another victory on Saturday. This time the victims were Wigan and Arsenal didn’t really have to change out of first gear to beat them by two goals to nil. That victory made it twenty eight games without losing and I can’t see Sevilla altering this fact come Tuesday night.

Sevilla can field a full strength side in this match and will probably need it. Arsenal o the other hand, will have some important absentees, most notably Van Persie, Gilberto and Walcott. The real soul of the team - Cesc Fábregas- will be there on the night though, and will want to impress on his return to his country.

Sevilla will probably be hoping Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger leaves his most talented players at home and gives the younger players some experience, as the London club have already qualified for the next round. I doubt this will happen though, as Wenger is too cautious a man to do that.

I’m going for an Arsenal win here. Sevilla have the players and the talent, but just don’t have the puff or the confidence to win. Watch out for Fábregas having a huge game and will probably be the deciding factor.

Prediction: Away win (1-2)  

Sevilla vs Mallorca

An encounter that will see two teams placed along side each other in the middle of the league’s points table. Probably equal in form and balanced, both the sides have shown great heart in the competition. While Sevilla have Fabiano, who has been the most prolific scorer this season (8 goals) they will surely be missing Kanoute who is out due to injury. Another reason to smile is that goal keeper Palop has shown good form and temperament and is improving constantly. The problem comes when looking at the defense which is caught napping many a times; this is precisely what let them down last week in an away tie against Valencia.

 

Mallorca on the other hand have been fighting out each match and are trying to out do their opponents, their last week’s away encounter at the Bernabeu was a classic example of their ability. Varella seems to be in sublime form and Guiza seems to support him very well but as for Sevilla the problem again comes in terms of the defense; they have been able to score but at the same time have let the opposition score as well.

 

Both teams seem to be similar in terms of formation and strategy with in form strikers and a not so strong defense but one thing that the visiting Mallorca should keep in mind will be that Sevilla have been playing a rough game. The match should probably go a little more than 90 minutes as a lot of fouls can be expected. With both sides fighting hard it will probably a moment of brilliance from any of the strikers that might decide the game but apart from that the match does not have a favorite. Though playing at home is a serious advantage for Sevilla, judging by what Mallorca did to Real Madrid last week even that will be negated.

 

Prediction: 2-2, draw

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