Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Espanyol have managed to collect points only once in their last five encounters, suffering a heavy defeat to Athletic Bilbao in the previous round (1:4). Now they face a less formidable opponent in Sevilla, who also suffered a significant loss last time out (1:5).
Espanyol
The hosts have displayed inconsistent form at the start of the season, struggling in both attack (scoring 10 from 8.8 xG), and defence (conceding 17 from 19 xGA). While the offensive struggles can be attributed to the injury of key forward Javi Puado, the defensive woes have persisted for more than a season. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the Catalan side have won three of their last four home matches, losing only to Villarreal, who sit fourth in the table.
Sevilla
The visitors have also started the season poorly, alternating between wins and losses and facing similar issues as their opponents. Sevilla have been relatively underproductive in front of goal, scoring 10 from 12.3 xG, and have conceded 15 from 14.5 xGA. It’s important to consider their away match history, which is less than encouraging; they have not secured an away victory this season.
Espanyol vs Sevilla Prediction
We believe the stadium, being Espanyol’s home ground, will be the decisive factor in this match. Playing at home, the hosts won’t lose, so a double-chance bet seems reliable.
