Sevilla look to upset La Liga
Published:
Sampaoli’s boys crank up the heat in Spanish top-flight
Hot on the heels of Sevilla’s extraordinary win over Real Madrid at the weekend, we look at the chances of Sevillistas going on to claim what would be a historic La Liga title.
The idea of a modern club breaking the iron grip that Real Madrid and Barcelona currently have over La Liga may sound somewhat comical, but it’s certainly not an impossible task, as was shown when Atletico Madrid turned the odds upside down on-route to their 2013/14 success. Few would have given that a chance before the off.
Breaking the power-two not impossible
The Mattressers bounced Barca into second, claiming the title by a three-point margin, making them the first side outwith the power-two to finish in pole position in a decade. Valencia turned the trick the time before, enjoying a five-point cushion over runners-up Barca, who ended the campaign with eight defeats. Luis Enrique’s boys already have two in 18 starts.
Sevilla won the Spanish league back in the 1945/46 season – you may not recall – and that remains their only success to date, but they do boast four runner-up medals, and are certainly going the right way about challenging again this term.
Late show means the race is on
The outsiders cranked up the pressure on current leaders Real Madrid, inflicting their first defeat of the season courtesy of two very late goals. With Ronaldo firing Blancos ahead in the second-half, Ramos forced the ball into his own net on 85-minutes. With a share of the spoils looking likely, a result that would have surely suited Madrid more, Jovetic struck in stoppage-time at the end of the match to send shockwaves through European football. The title race was on!
Next up, Jorge Sampaoli takes his over-achievers to Osasuna on Sunday morning, with Coral making the away win 8/15 favourite. That’s sure to be a popular selection in European football accumulators this weekend.
Sevilla fox hunting
You will remember, with the Champions League last 16 matches next month, that Leicester City, who pulled off a jaw-dropping domestic league win of their own last season, travel to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in what is fast becoming a fascinating match-up.
Sevilla are 4/7 jolly at Coral to win the first-leg at home and 8/15 to gain qualification. The Foxes will have something to say about that and backers can fill their boots at 4/1 to gain an invaluable away win, or 11/8 to continue their fairy-tale with qualification.
