Villarreal suffered disappointment in midweek with elimination from the Champions League. The Yellow Submarine were knocked out of the competition at the semifinal stage courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate defeat to Liverpool.
Now, with four matches left in La Liga, Unai Emery has to refocus the team to qualify for Europe for next season. Villarreal are seventh in La Liga currently with 12 points left to play for. They are separated by just four points from fifth-place Real Betis.
🔜 #VillarrealSevillaFC 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2HOZf55wwg— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) May 5, 2022
🔜 #VillarrealSevillaFC 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2HOZf55wwg
Sevilla are clinging onto third place in the standings. Julen Lopetegui’s team flirted with the title for two-thirds of the season. Now, Los Rojiblancos are six points ahead of fifth-place Real Betis in the race for Champions League football for next season.
The home team won the last three meetings in La Liga between these rivals. Sevilla claimed a 1-0 win earlier this season courtesy of a Lucas Ocampos first half goal.
Sevilla’s head-to-head record against Villarreal across the last 10 matches in all competitions is 3W-4D-3L. Six of the team matches finished with both teams not scoring goals.
Los Rojiblancos are in poor form heading into the fixture. They took just eight points from the last 18 points on offer in La Liga. Sevilla scored 10 goals and conceded nine times in their last six La Liga fixture.
Villarreal are in equally poor form going into the fixture. The Yellow Submarine took seven points from the last 18 points available to them. They struggled in front of goal with six goals scored and seven conceded.
Emery’s team is unbeaten in six straight La Liga home matches. They have a record of 10W-5D-2L. Their home record has made up for poor road form in 2021-22.
Sevilla’s away form has been steady, but too many draws on the road helped lead to them falling away from the title fight.
Sevilla won just one of their last six road games, but four of those six fixtures ended as draws. Los Rojiblancos have an away record of 6W-8D-3L with 15 goals for and 11 goals against.
Emery will likely be without forward Gerard Moreno due to a hamstring injury. He had to come off against Liverpool in midweek. Full-back Alberto Moreno is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Sevilla’s Anthony Martial is a doubt to play. Defender Karim Rekik is also a doubt due to a hamstring injury. Midfielder Fernando is unlikely to make the team. Forward Suso is still a major doubt.
Sevilla have drawn too many games on the road in 2021-22. Sunday’s trip to the Estadio da la Cermica should finish in another stalemate with the match ending 1-1.