Winter might be upon us, but the La Liga race is only getting hotter. Sevilla and Real Madrid are currently tied for third place with both teams sitting on 33 points halfway through the season, and a number of teams are just behind them. They both have a long way to go to catch Barcelona, but the most realistic goal for both sides at this point is to finish in the top four in order to ensure a spot in the Champions League next season.
Don't miss the Spanish La Liga action from the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain at 10:15 a.m. ET on Sunday, January 20, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on beIN Sports.
Spanish La Liga Betting at BookMaker.eu
Real Madrid -136
Sevilla +340
Draw +310
Over/Under 3
Odds Analysis
There was almost certain to be a fall-off after Zinedine Zidane parted ways with the club following three straight Champions League titles, but Real Madrid weren’t expecting a season like this. The club has won an incredible 90 trophies over their storied history, yet they may not win anything besides the FIFA Club World Cup this season. Real Madrid have struggled under both Julen Lopetegui and Santi Solari, and they are rumored to be in hot pursuit of both Christian Eriksen and Eden Hazard in order to find some playmakers in the midfield. Real Madrid just barely squeaked out a win against Real Betis last weekend with a Dani Ceballos goal in the 88th minute proving decisive.
Sevilla are happy to be playing someone aside from Athletic Bilbao. These two teams have squared off three times in the past week, meeting twice in Copa del Rey action and once in league play. Sevilla were able to have the upper hand in Copa del Rey and advanced, but they lost on the road in La Liga action last weekend. Sevilla have not won a game in league play since beating Girona 2-0 on December 16.
Injury Report
Gareth Bale is going to miss at least one more match due to a strained calf, while Toni Kroos and Thibaut Courtois will be out of action too. All three players are expected back soon though and could return as early as next week. Marcos Llorente and Marco Asensio are both doubtful to pay because of hamstring injuries.
Roque Mesa will be suspended for one match due to yellow card accumulation, so Sevilla will have to make due without the midfielder. Maxime Gonalons and Nolito will each be sidelined for another two months due to major injuries.
Matchup to Watch
This is unfamiliar territory for Real Madrid. While struggling in league play is not unusual for the club, being unable to score regularly is new. Real Madrid have found the back of the net only 28 times in 19 matches this season, and that is inexcusable for a club with their resources.
Luka Modric has been great in the midfield, but everyone else’s play has been found wanting. Bale is out again, and Benzema is not the goal-scoring threat he was in the past. Solari continues to sit Isco for reasons that no one can really understand, and they will have a hard time breaking through against a Sevilla team that has been sound in the back.
La Liga Prop Bet – Under 2.5 Goals +150
With Real Madrid having a hard time scoring and Sevilla likely playing more on the defensive, the under is a good play here.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Sevilla thrashed Real Madrid 3-0 when these teams met earlier in the year. Andre Silva netted a brace 21 minutes into the match, and Wissam Ben Yedder put the game out of reach before the end of the first half. It’s hard to expect the same in the Bernabeu, but I think Sevilla will grab a result.
Spanish La Liga Odds: Sevilla 1, Real Madrid 1
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
