Europa League Tie of the Round!

Europa League Tie of the Round!

Lazio vs Sevilla

There are worse places to be on Valentine’s Day than Rome, so that’s where we’re heading on Thursday as La Liga giants Sevilla take on Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico.

It looks more like a Champions League fixture when two of the strongest teams among the best leagues in the world clash, and that’s why Lazio versus Sevilla is the big draw in this week’s Europa League knockout stage.

Both teams are in a serious fight for a top-four place in their domestic leagues. But the Europa League provides another way into the Champions League, and these two are both capable of winning this tournament. So there will be no love lost as they battle it out in a tie which can go either way according to Lazio vs Sevilla betting odds.

Talking Points

Injury worries for Inzaghi

Lazio will be desperate to take a first-leg advantage to Seville, but they look likely to be without some of their most influential players. Top scorer Ciro Immobile has 11 in the league is unlikely to make a return, having missed last week’s win over Empoli. And Simone Inzaghi has a headache in midfield. Luis Alberto is already out, and Lazio took another heavy blow when their main man, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, limped off with a thigh injury last Thursday.

This is a big time for the Biancocelesti. Lazio have won three on the bounce but suffered back-to-back defeats to the Serie A top two, Juventus and Napoli, before that. Defeat to the Bianconeri was particularly cruel, though, after a game thoroughly dominated by Simone Inzaghi’s side. They are down in seventh in Serie A, but there is a four-way battle for fourth with just one point separating Milan, Atalanta, Roma, and Lazio. And with those fixtures against the top two navigated, Lazio have as good a chance as any if their big players make a swift return.

But for now, and for the Europa League date with Sevilla, Ecuadorian striker Felipe Caicedo is a key player, having scored in the last two games to pick up six vital points. And goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha has had a big influence for the hosts, conceding just 25 goals in 23 league games.

Sevilla’s firepower

The Lazio stopper knows he’ll have his work cut out when Sevilla’s forwards set their sights. Wissam Ben Yedder and Ever Banega have four goals each in the Europa League as the Spaniards scored freely in the group stage. The combative Banega picked up a red card against Eibar last Sunday, but that prompted a late comeback by Los Rojiblancos who scored twice in the last five minutes to grab a point!

Ben Yedder is top-scoring for Sevilla in La Liga with 11, though strike partner Andre Silva, who started the season at break-neck speed, has gone a little quieter and has yet to make double figures, on nine; Pablo Sarabia has eight.

Attacking wide man Jesus Navas started on the bench for Sevilla at the weekend but could make a start on Thursday.

Sevilla are fifth favourites at 11.00 to lift the Europa League title and Pablo Machin’s side has been in the top three in La Liga until recently. But two late goals in a defeat to Real Madrid have left his team trailing the leaders. While they should hold on to fourth place, they need to regain some momentum. Alaves and Getafe are not usually Champions League candidates, but both are just two points behind Machin’s team and are playing without fear or expectation.

There’s a lot at stake in Rome on Thursday, and fans around Europe will be looking at this game in the Europa League 2019 updates to see which of the big guns is heading towards the exit.

History

The Europa League was almost Sevilla’s to keep at one time. Under Unai Emery, Los Rojiblancos won this competition three times on the run from 2014 to 2016 and winning four of their six group matches gave them an easy ride to the knockout stages once again.

On the other hand, Lazio made hard going of it, coming second and only two points above Greek side Apollon.

More recently, Sevilla have lost 4 away matches in a row, including a 6-1 Copa del Rey thumping at the hands of Barcelona after taking a two-goal lead into the second leg.

Lazio have a winning streak of three matches.

Betting Tip

Lazio Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 2.03

The hosts have the injuries, and the visitors have the bigger goal threat, but I think home advantage and recent form will play a big part in this match. Lazio are at 2.31 to win this first leg with the Spaniards at 2.98 and 3.20 the draw.

I’m using the Asian Handicap SBOBET option of a quarter-goal handicap to nudge the odds in a tight game I believe Lazio can win against the travel-sick Spaniards.

The most likely score-line is 1-1 at odds of 5.20, or you can get 7.00 for a 1-0 home win.

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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