Sevilla vs. West Ham — Can Injury-Stricken Sevilla Overcome The Hammers?

March 9, 2022

Benson Chikezie, Senior Author

The fourth Spanish side in European competition this season, Sevilla, will welcome Premier League world beaters West Ham to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on the 10th of March, 2022. Sevilla take on West Ham in this blockbuster Europa League Round of 16 first leg as both teams seek glory in continental competition for a straight ticket to the Champions League next season.

The match will kick off by 23:15 Indian Standard Time in the almost 43,000-seat capacity stadium and will most likely be a clash of two midfield maestros— Ivan Rakitic and Declan Rice. The two skippers are crucial to their team’s play and are set to play a huge role in deciding this tie over both legs.

Sevilla will hope to lay down a marker at home and put one foot in the semifinals with an emphatic win. They are missing several important players for this fixture, however, but the poor form of the Hammers away in the EPL will be a morale booster nonetheless. The Hammers are making their first appearance in the Europa League and have been one of the most improved sides in the top five leagues this season.

Teams Status

Now, we bring you the latest form and team news from the camps of both teams:

Sevilla Form and Team News

After playing out a draw in the league over the weekend, Sevilla look to restore confidence in the hearts of their fans, who had to deal with a loss in their last European encounter. The Spanish side remain second in the league behind Real Madrid, 8 points off the summit, and are unbeaten in 5 league matches (3 draws and 2 wins).

In Europe, Sevilla came through unscathed from their Round of 16 encounter with Dinamo Zagreb, winning 3–1 at home and losing in Zagreb by 1-0. Julen Lopetegui’s men have scored thrice in the Europa League, having come into the fray courtesy of an early Champions League exit, and have conceded twice.

For their team news, Sevilla have one player suspended for this fixture (Thomas Delaney) and eight others who are injured. Loanee Anthony Martial will miss this match, along with Erik Lamela, Karim Rekik, Fernando Reges, Gonzalo Montiel, Diego Carlos, Suso, and Papu Gomez.

West Ham Form and Team News

On the back of their controversial 1-0 loss over the weekend, West Ham travel to Spain to continue their quest for continental honors in their maiden UEL appearance. The London club are on a two-game losing run, after a five-game unbeaten run in all competitions, and look to halt that trend against an opponent that has continually triumphed against English sides.

The Hammers sit 6th in the league and are in a tough contest for European spots, with Tottenham, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Wolves in the fray. In Europe, they won their group with 13 points from a possible 18, losing 1, drawing another, and winning 4. Mohammed Said Benrahma is the man in form for the Hammers in Europe with 3 goals to his name so far.

For injuries and suspensions, West Ham have four absentees as Jared Bowen, Vladimir Coufal, and Angelo Ogbonna are injured, while Ukrainian Andriy Yarmolenko is unavailable to play.

What Do the Sportsbooks Say?

Sevilla	Draw	West Ham
2.155	3.32	4
2.15	3.30	4.00
2.155	3.32	4

West Ham have played some impressive football this season, although the same can be said of Sevilla, which explains the small margins between the odds on the sportsbooks.

The home team are favorites to win, with odds for a Sevilla victory placed at 2.155, 2.15, and 2.155 on the sportsbooks at Melbet, Parimatch, and Paripesa, respectively. A draw is placed at 3.32, 3.30, and 3.32 odds in the above order, while a win for West Ham is the upset expectation placed at 4 odds on all three sportsbooks.

Tipster’s Angle

Sevilla have an excellent record against English sides in the Europa League (6 wins and 1 draw) and have an excellent home record with 7 wins, and 3 draws in 10 games against English teams in all tournaments. They are, however, missing important players, and this might affect their performance on the night.

This is West Ham’s first meeting with the Spanish side and their first Europa League appearance; hence they will look to prove a point against a team of Sevilla’s status who have won the Europa League. Here are our expected outcomes in this clash:

Tip: Sevilla To Win Or Draw @ 1.24

Sevilla have been dominant against top English sides in the Europa League and are one of the teams with experience in the tournament. Their record against English teams should not be overlooked, especially against an unproven West Ham side.

They are also strong at home, so we expect them to come into this game with all guns blazing. Sevilla to win or draw is available on the Sportbet.io sportsbook at 1.24 odds.

Tip: Over 1.5 Goals @ 1.39

West Ham have not been shy in front of goal this season, neither have they underperformed when faced with strong opponents. This fixture will be a close call, especially if either team scores an early goal. We expect a lot of chances to be created at both ends, although Sevilla have not conceded more than 2 in a game for 27 matches straight. Over 1.5 goals is available on the Paripesa sportsbook at 1.39 odds.

Conclusion

The first leg playoff between Sevilla and West Ham will mean two things— a continuation of Sevilla’s dominance over English teams in the Europa League or West Ham’s fairytale season continuingly opening new chapters. We expect great attacking football from both sides.

Benson Chikezie

18:48, 9 Mar 2022

Senior Author

Benson Chikezie

Senior Author

18:48, 9 Mar 2022

Benson Chikezie is a Nigerian-based writer with many years of experience in the sports betting industry. He is a digital marketer by profession. Benson has written many sports related contents for various websites.