Sevilla vs Leicester
UEFA Champions League – Round of 16, First Leg
Date: Wednesday, 22nd February 2017
Kick-Off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan (Seville).
Sevilla kept up their chase for the Spain Primera Division title on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Eibar, to make it five wins from their last eight games in all competitions. Only one of these eight games have ended in defeat as well, leaving them just three points behind Real Madrid at the top of the table. The leaders do have two games in hand on them though, and 3rd placed Barcelona are only a point behind Sevilla and have a game in hand too.
Despite them being at a rather large disadvantage in terms of the league title, they are having a good campaign overall. The four time Europa League winners have shed their status as Europa League specialists by qualifying from their Champions League group ahead of Lyon and Dinamo Zagreb and are understandable favourites for this clash.
The hosts will definitely want to take advantage of this home leg though. Their win over Eibar made it five wins from their last seven home matches in all competitions, with the other two ending as draws. This includes a draw and a win against Real Madrid and a 9-1 battering of Formentera in the Copa del Rey.
They are facing a Leicester side in complete and utter turmoil as well. The Premier League champions performed remarkably well in the Champions League group stages as they topped their group ahead of Porto, Copenhagen, and Club Brugge. They kept a clean sheet in their first four group games, but a 5-0 hammering at Porto in the final match put a dampener on their campaign.
The Foxes’ other competitions are going a lot worse though. They were beaten 1-0 at League One side Millwall at the weekend to crash out of the FA Cup, with that making it six losses, one draw, and one win (after extra time) in their last eight matches in all competitions. Not only does this leave them out of the League Cup but they are now just a point above the Premier League relegation zone and show no signs of turning their form around.
Away from home things are even worse for them. They have won just twice on the road all season, drawing five and losing 12. One of these victories was in the Champions League opener, but I wouldn’t bank on them adding to that on Wednesday.
I can see a comfortable victory for Sevilla here. They have scored at least two goals in six of their last seven home games and are facing a Leicester side who have failed to score in four of their last five on the road. This includes two games against lower league opposition as well, and they have conceded a disappointing nine goals in these five games.
This makes odds of 2.100 for a Sevilla -1.5 Asian Handicap Win look good value for money, and I’m going for that along with a 3-0 correct score predictions at 8/1.
I also think it’s worth backing Wissam Ben Yedder to score anytime at 20/21. The striker has bagged ten goals in the league and Champions League this season and six of them have come at home, so he looks the ideal choice for our goalscorer predictions.
Sevilla vs Leicester: Form Guide
Sevilla are unbeaten at home in their 7 fixtures since the match-day 6 of the Champions League. They picked up 5 wins and 2 draws during the period.
On the other hand, Leicester managed just 5 wins from their 15 matches across all competitions. They are coming on the back of a 1-0 loss to League One side Millwall FC, which is their 4th defeat inside last 5 games.
Sevilla vs Leicester: Head-to-head stats
The teams will be meeting for the first time in a UEFA competition.
Sevilla defeated Premier League side Liverpool in the finals of the Europa League at Basel last season. Their overall record against English sides is 4 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses from 9 matches. The three matches at home saw 2 wins and 1 draw.
Leicester are without a win in four matches played against Spanish teams; 1 draw and 3 losses. They lost in each of their previous two visits to Spain.
Sevilla vs Leicester: Prediction
Leicester City hit rock bottom with the 1-0 loss to Millwall on Saturday. The team has absolutely no confidence and need a miracle to salvage anything from this game.
Sevilla have done exceptionally well at home this season. The 2-1 win against Madrid to end their 40-match unbeaten streak is a perfect example of what they are capable of. It won’t be a problem for them to ease past a team like Leicester.
Sevilla vs Leicester: Bet Tips
Full-Time Asian Handicap Sevilla -1.5 to win at 2.10 (11/10)
Over 2.5 goals at 1.80 (4/5).
