Wednesday 14/05/2014, 21:00, Europa League, Final Sevilla vs Benfica
Sevilla vs Benfica Betting Preview
Benfica achieved great things this season, by winning the domestic championship and cruising to the Europa League final. They only lost games on the road in the Champions League against some of the best teams on the continent and against Porto. Their Portuguese rivals stripped them of the chance to win the cup, and now Sevilla will attempt to do the same in Europa League.
Sevilla vs Benfica Betting Odds
At Bet365
Sevilla 3.25, Draw 3.25, Benfica 2.25
Sevilla vs Benfica Betting Tips
Sevilla started the regular season on the wrong foot and lost many games, being at one point threatened with relegation, just like their city rivals. Much to their credit, they rebounded in the second half of the season and came painfully close of securing a Champions League berth.
The war on two fronts took its toll and Sevilla had to settle for another presence in Europa League next season. On a more positive note, this will allow them to focus exclusively at the task at hand, which is to win another continental trophy.
In order to defeat Benfica, the Spanish side will need to play the same offensive football that helped them against the other Portuguese team. They gave Porto no chance in the quarterfinals and were equally aggressive against Valencia en route to a 2-0 victory.
The only concern is that both victories were earned in front of their fans, while their performance on the road was less impressive. In fact, Sevilla lost both first legs in the semifinals and quarterfinals, with a late goal scored in the final minute of overtime propelling them to the final.
Benfica showcases some remarkable defensive skills in the semifinals against Juventus and the last few minutes in Turin were particularly impressive. They did their part and are now playing the final, but three players are suspended, with three more missing due to injuries.
Key Facts
- Markovic, Perez and Salvio saw red or yellow cards in the previous round and will not play the final
- This is the first time that the two teams meet in Europa League, but Sevilla won the competition before
Sevilla vs Benfica Betting Prediction
If we were to side with bookmakers, then betting on Benfica to win in regulation time would be the obvious bet. Since this is a game of extraordinary magnitude and the Portuguese side will be playing without six of its key players, it is much better to take odds of 1.70 for Sevilla not to lose in regulation time.
Bet: Sevilla or Draw @ 1.70 with Bet365
