Sevilla vs Arsenal Preview: Decisive Group C Showdown
Europa League Winners Host Arsenal
Crucial Champions League Clash
The 2022-23 Europa League champions Sevilla have kicked off their Champions League campaign with two straight draws. Following a La Liga draw vs Real Madrid on Saturday, Los Nervionenses host Arsenal in the UCL on Tuesday. Arsenal are unbeaten in the Premier League but lost their last Champions League match vs Lens. Depending on the Lens vs PSV result, the winner of this match could go on top of Group C. So, we’ll take a look at the odds and UCL team news in our Sevilla vs Arsenal preview.
Sevilla vs Arsenal
Day/Time:
Location: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, Spain
Head-to-Head
Sevilla vs Arsenal previews note that these two teams have only met twice on their Champions League schedules. At home, in the 2007-08 group stage, Sevilla managed a 3-1 win over Arsenal. In the reverse fixture, the Gunners won 3-0.
Sevilla Draw in Diego Alonso’s First Match
Sevilla Europa League-winning coach Jose Luis Mendilibar was sacked after a poor start to the season. His Sevilla got off to just a 2-2-4 start in La Liga, with an 0-2-0 record in the Champions League. Former Uruguay coach Diego Alonso took over during the October international break. His first match at the helm finished in a 1-1 draw vs Real Madrid.
Real Madrid had two goals called back in the match and it was Sevilla who opened up the scoring. Real’s David Alaba sent a cross into his own net but Dani Carvajal grabbed an equalizer for the visitor minutes later. Sevilla haven’t been a good pick for soccer betting this season but did cover the spread on Saturday.
Sevilla have conceded in each of their last five matches, in all competitions. They were minutes away from defeating PSV on the road in the UCL a few weeks ago but Jordan Teze equalized as the match finished 2-2. Sevilla have drawn their last three matches and haven’t yet won a match in October. Los Nervionenses have won just two of their 12 matches this season but Youssef En-Nesyri leads the team with five goals.
Arsenal Coming Off Worst Performance of Season
Arsenal played in a London Derby on Saturday vs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The Gunners conceded on a penalty and a fluke cross-turned-shot to fall behind 2-0 in the 48th minute. Mikel Arteta’s side failed to create good chances throughout the match and were dreadful in their build up. Still, Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez bailed Arsenal out by making a poor pass that the Gunners’ Declan Rice sent first-time into the empty net.
Super sub Leandro Trossard equalized on a Bukayo Saka cross and Arsenal escaped with a 2-2 draw despite playing poorly. The Gunners are still unbeaten in the EPL but are 1-1 in two Champions League games. In their last UCL match, at Lens, Gabriel Jesus opened up the scoring but Lens fought back to win the match 2-1. Arsenal won their opener 4-0 over PSV and Jesus has scored in both of Arsenal’s Champions League games so far.
Bukayo Saka, Thomas Partey and Trossard have recently returned from injuries. So, Jurrien Timber is the only Arsenal player ruled out for Tuesday’s match. Arteta still hasn’t found the best role for big-money signing Kai Havertz but the lanky German was effective when he came on as a sub to face his former club on Saturday. Saka, Rice, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba are ones to watch for Arsenal.
Match Analysis & Odds
It’ll be interesting to see if Mikel Arteta makes a goalkeeping change for this match. David Raya, who took Aaron Ramsdale’s place as Arsenal’s number one, has had a couple of shaky games in a row. It wouldn’t be shocking if Ramsdale returns to make his UCL debut on Tuesday. Sevilla vs Arsenal previews also mention that Arsenal have historically struggled against Spanish teams in European competitions.
All-time, the Gunners are 12-10-16 vs Spanish clubs. Here, they’re -120 favorites and it would be a big victory for them if they’re able to pull it off. Meanwhile, Sevilla are +320 underdogs in Diego Alonso’s first-ever Champions League match as a coach. Bettors can find a draw at +260 odds and it wouldn’t be all that surprising given Sevilla’s current draw streak.
Like Arsenal, Sevilla shouldn’t be missing any key UCL players for this one. En-Nesyri, Lucas Ocampos, Suso, Ivan Rakitic and Jesus Navas are the five players who have taken part in every UCL group stage and La Liga match for Sevilla. Hosts Sevilla have conceded in five straight matches in all competitions and over 2.5 goals sit at -130 odds here. Sevilla +0.5, +1 is priced at -125 odds, while Arsenal -0.5, -1 comes in at +105.
For UCL betting news, Champions League winner odds , and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
