Sevilla x Granada – Palpite & Prognóstico (08.04.2022)

Sevilla will look to get back to winning ways in La Liga when they host Granada at the Ramon Stadium on Friday night.

Julen Lopetegui’s side have dropped to fourth in the Spanish top flight due to their recent form, while Granada sit 16th, three points above the relegation zone.

Match Preview

Sevilla had been Real Madrid’s closest opponent in La Liga, but they are now struggling to maintain their place in the top four, having won just one of their last six matches in the Spanish top flight.

Lopetegui’s side were in second place last week but lost 1-0 to Barcelona on Sunday, with the Catalan side running roughshod over them, while Atletico Madrid have now moved into third due to their recent good form, leaving Sevilla in fourth place with 57 points.

The Nervionenses are only four points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis, and it would be a major disappointment if they gave up Champions League spots at this stage of the campaign.

Sevilla have not won the league since overtaking Real Betis at the end of February, while they have won only two of their last 10 in the Spanish top flight; they were also knocked out of the Europa League by West Ham United in the round of 16 in mid-March.

Lopetegui’s side have the second best home record in the Spanish top flight this season, picking up 34 points from their 14 games, and will face a Granada side that has won just two of their 15 away games this season, collecting just 12 points in the process.

Granada, meanwhile, has picked up four points in its last two league games, winning 3-2 at Alaves on March 19 before drawing 2-2 with Rayo Vallecano last time out.

A record of six wins, 11 draws and 13 losses in 30 matches has seen the Andalusian club pick up 29 points to sit 16th in the table, just three points above the relegation zone.

Ruben Torrecilla’s side have finished seventh and ninth in their last two campaigns in Spain’s top flight, but have found it more difficult this term, and are in a relegation battle at this stage of the season.

Sevilla suffered a 1-0 loss to Granada in the return leg in October, but recorded a 2-1 win when the two sides locked horns at the Estadio Ramon last season.

The three-time Segunda Division champions will have a chance to avoid the drop this season due to the series of games in the final stages, with their toughest match, at least on paper, coming to champions Atletico Madrid on April 20.

Team news

Sevilla again will miss Fernando, Thomas Delaney and Suso through injury, while Gonzalo Montiel will be out through suspension, having been booked against Barcelona last time out.

Coach Lopetegui is expected to make changes to the team that took the field at the Camp Nou, with Jesus Manuel Corona and Ludwig Augustinsson likely to win matches.

Munir El Haddadi could also be given a spot in the team in the number 10 position, with Ivan Rakitic potentially dropping into central midfield alongside Joan Jordan.

Granada, meanwhile, will be without Carlos Neva, Angel Montoro, Maxime Gonalons and Santiago Arias on Friday night due to injury.

Coach Torrecilla is expected to keep faith with most of the players who took the field for the first whistle against Rayo last time, although there may be some changes.

Yan Eteki will likely bring Njegos Petrovic into the middle of the park, while there could also be a change in a wide area, with Darwin Machis possibly coming in for Alex Collado.

Sevilla’s possible starting lineup could be:
Bounou; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Augustinsson; Jordan, Rakitic; Corona, Munir, Ocampos; Martial

Grenada possible starting lineup:
Maximiano; Quini, Duarte, Sanchez, Escudero; Puertas, Eteki, Milla, Machis; Molina, Suarez