Sevilla – Basel. Alexander Vishnevskiy’s prediction

Sevilla won 16 of their last 16 home games. The last match against Villarreal was really impressive. Everything was against Sevilla: Nzonzi and Konoplyanka’s injuries, two yellow cards for Banega and two goals from two Villareal’s shots before the break. But Sevilla won that game against all odds.

Unai Emery’s team are excellent at home: they stole points from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Villarreal during their winning streak. So Basel have a little chance against the team who won two last Europa League tournaments.

The Swiss secured a home draw 0:0 in the first game of this tie. But Sevilla are too weak in away games this season – they have no away wins at all in Primera and in Europe. But at home they are raving and storming.

The absence of Vitolo, Nzonzi and Konoplyanka is a huge blow for Sevilla, but Basel have even more troubles with seven first-team players missing because of injuries. With all that, they are strong enough to stand against their opponents.

So I wouldn’t back Sevilla with any handicap (-1 or -1,5). The Spanish team will play very carefully because just one conceded goal can ruin everything for them. But I expect Sevilla to play solid in defence and to qualify to the next round by winning to nil.