Sevilla vs Real Madrid
You can count on one hand the occasions in the past decade when journalists could legitimately write the sentence: Real Madrid are having a tough time of it.
This season is different, of course, and when they lost a thrilling El Clasico (the fourth time this term) by the odd goal in seven last weekend, it was game over as far as their title defence was concerned.
That was confirmed on Thursday night when Barcelona were crowned as La Liga champions and meant Los Blancos will definitely finish the campaign with their tail between their legs.
Although they did lift the UEFA Super Cup, a Copa del Rey Final and Spanish Super Cup defeat, also to Barca, and a Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Arsenal, has meant a rare season of disappointment for Real and soon-to-depart manager Carlo Ancelotti.
He will want to end his second tenure at the club on a high and a victory in the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday teatime will help.
Talking Points
There is next to nothing for either side to play for in one sense.
Real have already been confirmed as La Liga runners-up and, if that is disappointing by their own lofty standards, it hasn’t been the fall from grace that Sevilla have experienced this season.
To say they’ve not had too much to shout about is something of an understatement with a desperately disappointing campaign leaving them close to the relegation zone, although they did manage to confirm their status in the top-flight for 2025-26 courtesy of a 1-0 success over Las Palmas on Tuesday night.
The victory proved to be their first in Spain’s top-flight since March 9 and it ensured that the team would not have any relegation fears heading into the final two La Liga weekends with 41 points from 36 matches, leaving them seven points ahead of the bottom three.
With few La Liga 2025 highlights to now aim for, this SBOTOP writer wonders if either team will have too much incentive.
Absences have seriously harmed Real Madrid, particularly the season-ending injuries sustained by Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal in the autumn.
Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, and Eduardo Camavinga are also definitely out this weekend and, while Aurelien Tchouameni will make a timely return from suspension, Brahim Diaz, Andriy Lunin, Lucas Vazquez, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo all remain doubts for the capital giants.
The home side welcome back Isaac Romero into their squad this weekend but Kike Salas, Tanguy Nianzou, Ruben Vargas, and Akor Adams are doubts.
One man who did not deserve to be on the losing side last weekend was French captain Kylian Mbappe who scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 defeat in Catalonia. It was a treble which saw him overtake Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in the race to be the top scorer in La Liga this season.
For those who criticised him earlier in the season, his stats say it all. 40 goals in his debut Real Madrid campaign is a remarkable achievement, and the lightning fast livewire will again be the man Seville need to stop if they are to claim something.
As for Ancelotti, he leaves a hero as he prepares to take his leave to manage the Brazilian national team.
The 65-year-old is set to begin his new job with the Seleção on May 26 and has the tough task of leading a talented, yet struggling Brazil squad back to greatness at next year’s World Cup.
History
September 2018 was the last time Sevilla beat Madrid, a match I covered for SBOTOP when some Silva service helped Sevilla sink Los Blancos.
They went down to a 4-2 defeat to Real Madrid in the match at Bernabeu earlier this season when Mbappe, Federico Valverde, Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz scored the goals for the home team.
It was 1-1 when the pair met at Estadio Ramon last term with an own goal quickly cancelled out by Carvajal.
Overall, Real have 98 wins to the Andalusian’s 48 successes with 30 draws.
Real have held the upper hand in recent years and have won 10 and drawn two of the last 12 meetings.
Betting Tip
Our La Liga 2025 betting odds are with Real 1X2 @ 1.79 and Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.35, compared to the home team who can be backed 1X2 @ 3.68 and Asian Handicap +0.50 @ 2.12. For me, though, this will end level pegging with my tip being a draw.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
