Champions League Group D: Juve old boy Immobile to inspire Sevilla win
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Italian champions Juventus’ bid to win a fifth straight Scudetto has got off to the worst possible start and, with former player Ciro Immobile leading the attack of next Champions League opponents Sevilla, their dismal run could continue.
Coral make Massimiliano Allegri’s team very short at an odds-on 20/23 price to win for the first time at home this term in this European outing, so backing the Bathtubs and their Juve old boy to haunt the Old Lady upon his return at a tasty 10/3 looks real value.
Sevilla’s own form is admittedly far from encouraging, which might make a draw in Turin at 13/5 seem appealing, but Unai Emery has rested Immobile ahead of this fixture at his one-time stomping ground, with another former player Fernando Llorente injured.
Allegri clearly felt his attack needed freshening up after steering Juventus to a Serie A and Coppa Italia double last term, as well as reaching the Champions League final where Barcelona simply outclassed them. Llorente’s departure went under the radar, with bigger contributors Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal joining playmaker Andrea Pirlo in exiting Piedmont.
Immobile, meanwhile, has top scorer for Juve’s city rivals Torino the season before last, and also topped Serie A’s goal chart, which resulted in a big money move to Borussia Dortmund. Stepping into the shoes of Robert Lewandowski there clearly came too soon, but this game is the perfect opportunity got the Italy international to get his career back on track.
With anytime scorer odds of 2/1, Immobile is well worth a wager, especially as the hosting Old Lady have injuries to midfield duo Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio. The Juventus attack is also missing physical threat Mario Mandzukic, signed to replace Llorente.
Aside from the Azzurri’s Immobile, French forward Kevin Gameiro could get the nod to lead Sevilla’s line supported by Yevhen Konoplyanka. This pair have developed a curious recent habit of scoring first and last respectively, so are worth considering to do so again at 7/1 and 10/1 apiece.
The Old Lady’s goal burden now falls on Argentina call-up Paulo Dybala and Spain striker Alvaro Morata, but for a side averaging just one strike per game in Serie A, their anytime odds of 6/5 and 5/4 are way too short amid early season struggles.
Backing the Bathtubs to win to nil at a terrific 13/2 might also thus be worth a cheeky fiver.
Coral’s top tip: Juve are there for the taking, so side with Sevilla a tasty 10/3 for victory in Turin.
