La Liga action continues on Monday evening with an intriguing Andalusian derby between Granada and Sevilla at Los Carmenes (Granada 15/8, draw 9/4, Sevilla 11/8).
Both teams will be desperate for the points, with newly promoted Granada still to seal their top flight status while Sevilla know they will need to win if they’re to have any chance of making a late run for the European places.
The home side have been in shocking form of late, having lost four of their last five matches in the league. However, they may have garnered some confidence from their last match when despite losing 5-3 at Barcelona, they caused the Blaugrana a number of problems and at one stage looked as if they had done enough to earn a vital point at the Nou Camp.
Their inability to avoid conceding once again showed them up and following the news that talismanic defender Pape Diakhate has been ruled out for the season, the ‘El Grana’ rear-guard is likely to come under even more scrutiny.
However, they have the talent and experience to keep a clean sheet and in veteran Noe Pamarot, they have a player who knows what it’s like to defend at the top level. The former Spurs man will undoubtedly need to put in a strong performance on Monday and his contribution could see his side sneak a vital win (Granada 13/2 to win 1-0).
Sevilla have once again flattered to deceive this season and, having won just one of their last four outings, hardly deserve to have any success. However, due to the nature of the league this year, a win on Monday would see them move into the top half of the table and leave them just two wins from the Champions League spots.
Despite their continued struggles, there is no doubt that with the talent at their disposal, they should be much higher in the league (Sevilla 6/1 to win 1-0).
One such star who seems to typify this is the recently re-signed winger Jose Antonio Reyes. The former Arsenal man returned to the club in January and many expected he would finally start to prove his worth after years of struggling to justify his reputation. Although there’s no doubt he has impressed during his latest stint at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, he is yet to find the net for Michel’s side. He will be looking to break his duck in this local derby.
Reyes’ ability could see his side home in what could be a tight match. Every season a team makes a late run for the European places and it could be Sevilla’s turn this time around so look out for them to take the points in a single goal victory (Sevilla 17/2 to win 2-1).
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Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni will start his preparations for this summer’s Euro 2012 finals (66/1 – Outright) with a tricky international friendly test against the Czech Republic at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday.