Sevilla FC vs AS Roma
Two of Europe’s big teams meet at the Schaunisland-Reisen-Arena on Thursday and there’s plenty at stake for both.
The Europa League contest between Sevilla vs Roma is one of the ties of the Round of 16, a clash between the competition’s most successful club and a team which desperately wants to win the title this year.
Five-time winner Sevilla have secured their 2020-21 Champions League spot with a fourth placed finish in La Liga, while Roma finished fifth in Serie A so they must win the Europa League to take their place.
It’s going to be a tough task with teams of the calibre of Sevilla, Manchester United, and Inter Milan still in the competition. But Paulo Fonseca’s side is in good form and they are four games from their goal.
This is a one leg-tie as Sevilla and Roma’s match was interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak and will be played at a neutral venue, while the rest of the competition will also be completed in Germany.
The Sevilla vs Roma betting odds point to a tight game and a tense night for fans of Los Sevillanos and I Giallorossi.
Talking Points
Sevilla are a tough nut to crack
They have a Champions League place in the bag, but Julen Lopetegui’s team will not sit back having finished the season with a run of 17 unbeaten matches in all competitions.
They have kept a clean sheet in the last three games. And in his first season at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Lopetegui will keep them focused as he aims to win his first silverware at the club.
Lopetegui’s stock has risen this season after a disastrous spell at Real Madrid and the momentum at the club looks unlikely to slow any time soon.
Winger Lucas Ocampos has had an impressive first campaign, noted for his high work rate and eye for a goal. The Argentine is the sixth top scorer in La Liga with 14 and he has pace and power in abundance at 6-foot-2.
Striker Munir El Haddadi is Sevilla’s top scorer in the Europa League with five goals and he can profit from Ocampos’ industry.
Lopetegui will be without midfielder Nemanja Gudlj who has tested positive for coronavirus, while keeper Tomas Vaclik is still sidelined with Moroccan stopper Yassine Bounou set to continue in goal.
Smalling returns to Manchester
Roma will be without their influential loan player Chris Smalling, who is returning to Manchester United as his loan period expired at the end of the Serie A season.
The centre back says he is gutted to miss out on the Europa League campaign having become a fan-favourite this season, making 37 appearances and scoring three goals.
“To experience the love shown to me in such a short time was extra special and it will not be forgotten. I want to thank and wish all the players and staff the best of luck against Sevilla. Daje Roma,” said Smalling.
Head coach Paulo Fonseca could move to sign the player permanently during the summer. But in the meantime, he must try to win this competition without him and defender Gianluca Mancini is set to return from suspension to replace Smalling.
I Giallorossi come into the game on the back of a comfortable victory over Serie A champions Juventus. They already had fifth place guaranteed and finished with an impressive run of seven wins and a draw.
Fonseca rested some players against the Old Lady and we should see the return of main striker Edin Dzeko, who has three goals in the Europa League, so as young forward Justin Kluivert.
History
The Europa League was Sevilla’s during a period of domination between 2014 and 2016 when the Spanish club won three on the run to make it a record five titles in total.
This season Roma needs to win its first, but in terms of head-to-head Sevilla vs Roma results we don’t have much to work on.
There have been two previous meetings, both friendlies and one won by each side. Dzeko played and scored in both games, a 2-1 win for Roma, and a 6-4 defeat.
Take a look at recent results and we have two teams bang in form, with Roma unbeaten in eight and Sevilla unbeaten in 17. It’s a tough one to call.
Betting Tip
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Sevilla FC vs AS Roma | 1X2 Draw @ 3.30 |
| August 7 00:55 (GMT+8) |
Sevilla is the favourite here at SBOBET at odds of 2.10 with Roma available at 3.25.
A meeting with the winner of the match between Wolves and Olympiacos awaits the victor, and I have a feeling this game may go beyond 90 minutes.
For a score line, 1-1 at 5.40 is the most likely result with 2-3 goals at odds of 1.79.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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