Sevilla vs Barcelona — Tips & Analysis

Sevilla +2.25: Sevilla rarely get beaten badly, and that is where this pick starts. They have lost by 2 or more goals in only 2 of their last 13 games. Games have turned into a grind. Three of their last four finished 1-0, 1-0 and 1-1, and at home they let in 1 goal a game. This season they have beaten Valencia 1-0 and Rayo 2-1 in front of their own crowd. Sevilla score just over a goal a game, so the plan is simple. Sit deep, stay tight and hit on the break. Barcelona are a level above. They lead the league with 18 points from 6 games and a goal difference of plus 22. They score just over 3 goals a game, and their away trips brought 4-2 at Levante and 5-0 at both Valencia and Elche. But they arrive short of bodies. First choice keeper Joan Garcia is out for three weeks with a knee injury. Frenkie de Jong is missing from midfield and Roony Bardghji is out too. That points to a controlled 1-2 away win rather than a rout, and Sevilla should get on the scoresheet. The danger is real. Barcelona have won by 2 or more goals in 10 of their last 14 games, and they put 7 past Racing. Sevilla have to keep this narrow, and we think they will.