Barcelona battle Sevilla in all-Spanish UEFA Super Cup clash
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For the second successive season in a row, two Spanish giants will duel for the UEFA Super Cup, where the winners of the Champions League and Europa League compete to be crowned the continent’s best.
This time out Barcelona and Sevilla, who lost this tussle to Real Madrid last term, will clash in Georgia, with Barca clear odds-on match favourites from Coral at 1/3 to win over 90 minutes.
Lethal Lionel Messi has been the scourge of Seville for the last seven meetings between the two teams, notching in all and striking six in the past three. So, back the imperious Argentine at 11/4 to draw first blood against the Bathtubs, or a fantastic 5/2 to bag a brace or better.
There is also, of course, Luis Suarez, fresh following a summer suspended from international duty, for Unai Emery to worry about as well. The electric Uruguayan can be backed at 7/2 to breach the Bathtubs’ backline first, or the same price to have the final say.
In the anytime market, apparent Manchester United target Pedro has a 5/4 chance of netting, and is set to take Neymar’s starting spot, as the Brazil talisman is reportedly sidelined with sickness. Alternatively, punters can take a sensational 7/2 price for Croatia schemer Ivan Rakitic to grab a goal anytime as well.
This star-studded encounter should not be all a one-way street, however, as Sevilla have emerged as an impressive power in Spain over recent campaigns, and are 4/1 to split the spoils in normal time here, having forced a draw with Barca in their last battle.
Before that 2-2 result, however, the Bathtubs had lost all of their previous six duels with the Catalan kings, so have odds of just 15/2 to triumph for the first time against the recent treble winners since 2010.
Leading the attack for the Iberian underdogs, in the absence of departed dangerman Carlos Bacca and following the Barca capture of flank threat Aleix Vidal, will likely be loan star Ciro Immobile.
The Italian attacker, leased from Borussia Dortmund, is 11/4 to bag on his official bow anytime. Customers can also place a stake on another new signing, Evgen Konoplyanka, at 7/2 to do the same, or back French forward Kevin Gameiro, who scored the equaliser last time these two teams met, to grab the last goal.
Betting tip: take excellent odds of 11/4 for main man Messi to open the scoring and wreak havoc once again
