Sevilla-Espanyol is a match on the 33rd day of La Liga and is played Thursday at 7:30pm: lineups, predictions, TV and streaming.
On Monday Sevilla could have restored meaning to its league by getting back in the running for a place in the next European cups but had to deal with unleashed Girona, which a few days earlier had given no less than Real Madrid no chance. Against the Catalans came the first defeat of the Mendilibar management, the coach who turned around a team that had resoundingly ended up fighting not to relegate.
After seven positive results, the former Eibar coach cashed in on his first disappointment since sitting on the Andalusian club’s bench. A bittersweet defeat in any case, since Sevilla is no longer in danger of being involved in the salvation struggle once it reaches 41 points. The red and white have only and exclusively in mind the Europa League, a competition in which they have triumphed as many as six times in the past two decades. Winning the second continental event, which still features Mendilibar’s men, would “save” a season studded with disappointments and, above all, allow Sevilla to obtain a pass to the next Champions League, unreachable through La Liga.
Espanyol is still alive
Before focusing on the upcoming semifinal with Juventus, in the league Rakitic and his teammates will play another game in front of their home crowd, this time against the relegation-threatened Espanyol.
Joselu
The Barcelona club is fighting for survival and not to find itself back in Segunda but the situation remains very complicated. The return to success in the direct clash with Getafe was oxygen for the Catalans, who went through thanks to a penalty by Joselu. The road, however, is still long and winding: in the standings, Espanyol are back second-to-last after Getafe’s victory in the midweek round and must make up three points on Valencia.
The prediction
Sevilla has what it takes to turn the page immediately after the home loss to Girona and try to re-enter the race for Europe in extremis. Victory this time should come within a match that is likely to be grumpy, against an Espanyol side – without striker Braithwaite, who is disqualified – that will fight for the full ninety minutes.
The probable lineups for Sevilla-Espanyol
- SEVILLE (4-2-3-1): Dmitrovic; Jesus Navas, Gudelj, Badé, Acuña; Fernando, Rakitic; Bryan Gil, Suso, Ocampos; En-Nesyri.
- ESPANYOL (5-3-2): Pacheco; Brian Oliván, Cabrera, Sergi Gómez, César Montes, Óscar Gil; Melamed, Sousa, Darder; Joselu, Puado.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-0
