Sevilla vs Espanyol prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-01-24 17:30.
[p]Sevilla have not won back-to-back La Liga fixtures since April, so it is no surprise that they have lingered around mid-table for the majority of the campaign. A 2-1 comeback win over Girona last weekend means the tantalising prospect of a return to European football still remains on the table, as Los Nervionenses head into this round sitting just four points outside the top six ahead of this round.[/p]
[p]This season is their first without a continental competition in over a decade, but boss García Pimienta has clearly made an impact since taking the reins last summer, as his side have picked up ten points more after 20 matches than they had at the same stage in 2023/24. Sevilla could make life easier for themselves by starting matches better though, as they have conceded first in 12 of their 20 top-flight fixtures, including seven of the last nine! [/p]
[p]That could be good news for visitors Espanyol, who have gone 1-0 up in just one of their nine away league fixtures this term. Even that game ended in defeat, a 4-1 reversal against Real Madrid back in September, which contributes to the Parakeets having the worst record on the road in La Liga, picking up just one point from nine attempts (D1, L8) and scoring a league-low four goals in the process.[/p]
[p]Manolo González’s side therefore find themselves battling against the drop again in their first season back at this level. They did at least end a six-game winless run across all competitions (D3, L3) by beating bottom club Real Valladolid 2-1 last time out, but a streak of 11 H2Hs without a victory (D3, L8) means supporters may be travelling fearing the worst.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Sevilla’s star man Dodi Lukébakio has netted the last goal of the game in eight of his last ten goalscoring appearances. For Espanyol, Omar El Hilali has picked up the joint-second most number of yellow cards in La Liga this season, with four of his eight cautions coming in his last five appearances![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Sevilla have a 100% winning record from the five home league games in which they have scored first, while Espanyol have lost the seven away matches in which they have gone 1-0 down.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Matt Jones[/i][/p]