PSV Eindhoven-Sevilla is the return match of the Europa League round of 16 play-offs, played on Thursday at 18:45: predictions.
Sevilla only needed to breathe Europa League air again to go on a rampage and secure their qualification to the round of 16 against a respectable opponent like Psv Eindhoven, who had threatened Arsenal’s first place in the group stage until the last day. The Andalusians won the first leg with a resounding 3-0 victory and can now afford to lose by two goals in the Netherlands.
No one has triumphed more than the red and white in this competition, six times champions in the last twenty years. And seven days ago it was as if the blazon had taken the field: on the eve of the match, it was supposed to be a very balanced double, but the challenge of the ‘Sanchez Pizjuan’ said otherwise: The supremacy of Jorge Sampaoli’s team was not so clear-cut, but the Dutch, deprived in the winter market of two star players such as Gakpo and Madueke – finished respectively at Chelsea and Liverpool – did not prove equal to a team that in the last month has rediscovered great compactness and seems to be the distant departure of the one that last autumn had ended up even floating above the relegation zone. In La Liga, third-last place is still dangerously close but Rakitic and his teammates can now look to the future with greater optimism.
Sevilla have ‘secured’ the round of 16
And bearing in mind that it will be very complicated to reach Europe through the league, the cup becomes the primary objective in a rather troubled season so far. Sunday, meanwhile, Sevilla perhaps felt the fatigue of the double commitment, not going beyond a draw (1-1) in the match against Rayo Vallecano: Suso’s lead was answered by Lejeune.
Xavi Simons
The men led by former Real Madrid and Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy also drew, stopped (2-2) at home to Utrecht. It was a setback that did not allow Psv to keep pace with Feyenoord and Ajax, who trailed the red and whites by six and three points respectively. The team from Eindhoven are likely to be unprepossessing from the outset, with former club captain de Jong and the talented Simons in the team’s line-up, while Thorgan Hazard and El Ghazi will be absent. Sevilla are certain to lose Badé in defence, with Brazilian Fernando taking his place.
The Prediction
Psv Eindhoven will have to play the game, while Sevilla can afford to play at a much slower pace due to their huge advantage. We expect a match with many goals, in which both sides are likely to score this time. It is conceivable that the Dutch will at least manage to avoid defeat.
PSV Eindhoven v Sevilla likely line-ups
- PSV EINDHOVEN (4-3-3): Benítez; Teze, Ramalho, Branthwaite, van Aaholt; Til, Sangaré, Veerman; Saibari, de Jong, Xavi Simons.
- SEVILLE (3-4-3): Bono; Nianzou, Fernando, Alex Telles; Jesus Navas, Jordan, Rakitic, Acuña; Suso, Ocampos, En-Nesyri.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-1
