Saturday’s meeting between Sevilla and Barcelona has the chance to steal the headlines in Europe this weekend as both sides fight it out for third place in La Liga.
As it stands, Barcelona are two points better off than Sevilla, but Saturday’s hosts can climb above Ronald Koeman’s men with a victory.
Friends off the pitch, rivals on the pitch…
@ivanrakitic
Leo Messi
#SevillaFCBarça
@paninicromos
#AdrenalynXL pic.twitter.com/NHYdcPQsai
— LaLiga English (@LaLigaEN) February 25, 2021
Julen Lopetegui’s side have only lost two of their previous 15 games in all competitions, when big guns Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund got the better of them.
At the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla have won five games on the bounce, keeping a clean sheet in four of those encounters.
This weekend’s clash should be trickier, though, with Barcelona in town and looking to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 15 matches.
Ronald Koeman’s side will also be out for revenge this weekend, with Sevilla getting the better of them in the Copa del Rey this month.
Picking a winner looks tricky, but considering both teams have found the net with ease recently a score draw is inviting at odds of 57/20.
Atletico Ready to Pounce
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid step into the unknown this weekend as they prepare to tackle Villarreal amid a real downturn in form.
Going into this game, the La Liga leaders have lost back-to-back matches for the first time this season.
Atletico have been beaten by Levante and Chelsea in the last seven days, and they will be itching to get back to winning ways this weekend.
Away from home, Simeone’s troops have a stellar record, losing just one of their last eight away from the Spanish capital.
Standing in their way, the Yellow Submarine are struggling to string results together. Their form has stuttered of late, with just one win in their last five at home.
Villarreal are winless in their last five league games against Atletico, and that is a record that should get worse, with Atletico, despite their recent travails, decent value to win at 29/20.
Real Eager to Catch City Rivals
Zinedine Zidane’s side are doing it the hard way at the moment, with injuries disrupting their plans.
The reigning champions are still in the hunt for the title, with Atletico three points better off and with the advantage of another game in hand.
However, Real will feel they can keep on their coat-tails this weekend when they do battle with Real Sociedad.
Zidane’s side have won nine of their last 12 in Madrid, while the visitors have lost four of their last eight on the road.
Real Madrid have won ten of the previous 11 home games they have played against Sociedad, and they should be considered by punters at 20/23 to win.
*All odds correct at time of writing
