Sevilla vs Fenerbahce – Analysis, Prediction, Team News

As part of our Europa League Predictions, we examine the first leg of the round of 16 tie between Sevilla and Fenerbahce. Sevilla were dismantled 6-1 by Atletico Madrid and face an in-form Fenerbahce side – can they react here? Read on with our Sevilla vs Fenerbahce prediction.

Sevilla vs Fenerbahce Match Preview

Sevilla are the other team in the Europa League (the other being Manchester United) who come into this match on the back of an embarrassingly heavy defeat; 6-1 away to Atletico Madrid. However, much like we stated in our Manchester United vs Real Betis preview, Sevilla now have an opportunity to immediately rectify that result away from the glare of domestic competition with a home match against Fenerbahce. Sevilla were in good form domestically and were easing themselves way from the relegation zone in La Liga following a poor domestic campaign before a draw and a couple of defeats mean they’re now level on points with 18th-placed Almeria.

While they find themselves in unexpected trouble in La Liga, Sevilla’s home record has been good of late. Sampaoli’s men had won five matches in a row in all competitions, including a clinical 3-0 victory over PSV before a disappointing 3-2 home defeat to Osasuna. The defensive issues that have plagued Sevilla all season long have come back to haunt them, and to that end, they’ve now conceded 11 goals in just three matches. Things will likely not be easier at the back against a free-scoring Fenerbahce side.

Fenerbahce qualified with ease from Europa League Group B, going undefeated in the process. 14 points from 6 matches ensured that qualification for the knockout rounds was never in any serious doubt, and an entertaining pair of draws against Rennes for a 5-5 aggregate score showcased the Istanbul side’s ability to trouble the majority of defences in this competition. Their group-stage goal tally of 13 was equalled by Freiburg and Feyenoord but only bettered by PSV. Though curiously, Sevilla did keep a clean sheet against PSV at home, before losing 2-0 in the return leg, and PSV did score 10 of those goals against group whipping boys Zurich.

Instead, it’s perhaps noteworthy that Fenerbahce scored at least twice in every Europa League match, highlighting their consistency in attack. Domestically, Fenerbahce had a couple of wobbles following the restart in the form of disappointing defeats to bitter rivals Galatasaray and Trabzonspor (3-0 and 2-0 respectively). Since then, Fenerbahce have won six from seven in all competitions, scoring 18 goals in seven matches and only failing to score less than twice on one occasion, away at Adana Demirspor who have only conceded seven goals in 11 home matches all season.

Team News

Injuries and Suspensions

Sevilla:

Might Not Play: Corona, Rekik

Will Not Play: Bade, Gueye, Marcao, Papu Gomez

Fenerbahce:

Might Not Play:

Will Not Play: Alioski, Dursun, Gustavo Henrique, Luan Peres, Sangare

Sevilla vs Fenerbahce Lineups (Predicted)

Sevilla: (3-4-3): Bono; Nianzou, Gudelj, Fernando; Telles, Rakitic, Jordan, Navas; Gil, En-Nesyri, Suso

Fenerbahce (4-1-3-2): Bayindir; Lincoln, Szalai, Akaydin, Kadioglu; Willian Arao; Rossi, Zajc, Kahveci; Valencia, King

Our Prediction

Goals. Lots of them. The fact that Fenerbahce have scored at least twice in every Europa League match so far this season, and the presence of in-form Enner Valencia who’s scoring goals for fun at the moment means we’re confident that Fenerbahce can continue to trouble Europa League defences. On the flip side, Sevilla have improved at home lately and we expect them to be able to create plenty of chances against a Fenerbahce side who aren’t exactly solid at the back.

Fenerbahce’s two disappointing defeats at the restart involved them playing three central defenders and they were far too passive – they failed to get a shot on target away to Trabzonspor. This preview is written with the caveat that Fenerbahce will approach this match positively and not try to escape with a draw or a narrow defeat. Since they haven’t used three central defenders again, we can probably assume they’ll look to get at Sevilla’s soft underbelly in an attempt to take a positive result back to Istanbul.

Sevilla should be able to win a high-scoring encounter here, and they will try to put this tie to bed in the first leg to avoid a potentially tricky encounter at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. We expect that this approach will present both sides with the opportunities they require to come away with a result that each team will be reasonably happy with.

Sevilla 3-2 Fenerbahce

Sevilla vs Fenerbahce Betting Tip – Over 3.5 Goals Odds: