Preview: Sevilla vs. Celta Vigo
Sevilla will be bidding to make it back-to-back wins in La Liga when they welcome an in-form Celta Vigo to Estadio Ramon on Friday night.
The home side will enter the contest off the back of a 2-0 victory over Cadiz, while Celta extended their unbeaten run in the league to six matches with a 2-2 draw against Almeria last time out.
Sevilla started life under Jose Luis Mendilibar with a two-goal success over Cadiz on Saturday, with the result moving them into 13th position in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Lucas Ocampos sent Los Nervionenses ahead in the 51st minute of the clash with Cadiz, before Youssef En-Nesyri doubled their advantage in the 74th minute, and it proved to be the team’s first away success in Spain’s top flight since the middle of October.
Sevilla have finished fourth in each of their last three La Liga campaigns, but they are currently 17 points behind fourth-placed Real Sociedad, so Mendilibar’s side will need to win the Europa League this term in order to be present in the 2023-24 Champions League.
Rojiblancos will travel to Manchester United for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on April 13, and they will then take on Valencia in a huge league contest before the second leg of their European contest with the 20-time English champions on April 20.
Sevilla are unbeaten in their last five league games against Celta, but the last two affairs between the two sides have finished level, including a 2-2 draw at Estadio Ramon in the corresponding match last term.
Celta, meanwhile, are unbeaten in Spain’s top flight since February 12, winning three and drawing three of their last six matches in the league during a strong run of form.
Carlos Carvalhal’s side have picked up 35 points from their 27 league matches this season, which has left them in 10th position in the table, some eight points clear of the relegation zone.
Celta are just two points behind seventh-placed Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile, and another positive result on Friday would leave the supporters dreaming of a possible European finish.
The Sky Blues will enter this match off the back of a 2-2 draw with Almeria on Sunday; the visitors twice led in Vigo, but Haris Seferovic made it 1-1 before Carles Perez scored a second for Carvalhal’s team in the 42nd minute.
Celta have picked up 15 points from their 13 away league games this season, and they will be travelling to a Sevilla team with the fourth-worst home record, having picked up just 18 points from 13 games.
Sevilla La Liga form:
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Sevilla form (all competitions):
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Celta Vigo La Liga form:
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We say: Sevilla 1-1 Celta Vigo
Celta have been a tough nut to crack in recent weeks, so we are finding it difficult to back them to lose this match. Sevilla will be full of confidence following their win over Cadiz, but they have been largely disappointing at home this term, so we have had to settle on a stalemate here.