Sevilla Meet Tournament Outsiders
Sevilla have a tremendous record in the Europa League in recent years and although they may not admit it, they would have been happy when the draw for the round of 16 paired them with Slavia Prague.
The Spanish club have won the Europa League a record five times, including three straight wins between 2014 and 2016. Sevilla are aiming to make it six this season while Slavia Prague are looking to lift the first European trophy in their history. Their best record is reaching the semi-final in 1995/96.
Sevilla suffered a poor 2-1 defeat at Huesca in La Liga on the weekend and that leaves them 5 points adrift of the top four spots in the league. It was their second league defeat in a row following the home loss to Barcelona and Sevilla have won one of their last four matches.
Home form has been good and Sevilla have won thirteen of their last seventeen home games in all competitions. Recent wins include the 2-0 victory over Lazio in the Europa League round of 32 and 2-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey.
However, it’s Sevilla’s record at home in the Europa League which really stands out and trends show they have won each of their last eight games at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and eighteen of their last nineteen.
Sevilla have kept a clean sheet in six of their last seven at home in the Europa League have scored 2 or more goals in seven of their last eight.
Slavia Prague come into this game having won each of their last three matches in all competitions. They won 3-0 away from home in the Czech Liga on the weekend and have a 3 point cushion at the top of the table.
Included in their last three wins was a victory in the Europa League over Genk. It was an excellent 4-1 win in Belgium and a great performance considering they were held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg, which was at home.
Slavia Praha have lost only two of their last eight Europa League games but both defeats came away from home. In fact, trends show they have won only three of their last nineteen away matches in the competition although all three of those wins were recent.
Team news and Sevilla will be without Franco Vazquez who is suspended. Nolito will miss out with a broken leg but Daniel Caricco, Sergio Escudero and Maxime Gonalons could all return for this game.
Slavia Prague are definitely without Jakub Hromada and Stanislav Tecl who are recovering from serious injury. Jan Sykora and Marko Alvir are hoping to return in time and could be included in the squad.
Sevilla have a tremendous home record in this competition and Slavia Prague are going to find it tough. Expect to see a comfortable home win and a clean sheet for Sevilla.
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