Sevilla vs. Chelsea – Champions League, December 2, 2020

Sitting nine points clear of Krasnodar and Rennes in Group E, Sevilla and Chelsea have already secured their places in the last 16 of the Champions League.

The two frontrunners go head-to-head in southern Spain on Wednesday, December 2, following a goalless draw between the teams on Matchday 1.

I discuss the bookies’ odds before sharing my Sevilla vs. Chelsea prediction and betting pick.

As you can see, the odds for this matchup are extremely tight. 10bet seems to think that Chelsea (2.55) has a narrow advantage, although the price for the Sevilla win (2.75) isn’t much higher.

Given that these two sides produced a goalless tie back in October, the odds for the draw (3.35) look very attractive here.

Following a tricky start to the 2020/21 campaign, Sevilla seems to be heading in the right direction again. Julen Lopetegui’s men have won their previous five outings in all competitions, with a hard-fought 1-0 victory coming against Huesca on Saturday.

Three consecutive La Liga wins have seen Los Palanganas move up to fifth in Spain’s top-flight, although frontrunner Real Sociedad is still eight points ahead. Lopetegui’s men have struggled for goals this term, yet they boast the third-best defensive record in the division.

Sevilla is unbeaten in the Champions League this season. Following a draw with Chelsea on Matchday 1, the Spanish side has clinched three straight UCL victories. A spot in the knockout stages awaits, but I’m sure the team will want to send out a statement and top Group E.

Los Palanganas has gained a reputation for their strong home record, especially in European competitions. With former Barcelona star Ivan Rakatic teaming up with ex-Manchester City man Jesus Navas, Sevilla has even more experience this term.

Edouard Mendy for Chelsea this season:

▪️ 8 clean sheets in 11 games
▪️ Only 3 goals conceded
▪️ Leads PL in clean sheets (5)

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— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 29, 2020

After recording a goalless draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, Chelsea’s unbeaten streak now stands at 11 games. Indeed, seven wins and four draws have seen the Blues establish themselves as one of Europe’s in-form teams right now.

With Timo Werner leading the way, Frank Lampard’s men have been scoring lots of goals lately. But perhaps most impressively, they have also kept a series of clean sheets. The Londoners have achieved eight shutouts across their 11-game unbeaten streak, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy gaining plenty of admirers in the process.

Not only are the Blues top of Group E, but they are also well and truly in the EPL title race this season. Chelsea is only two points behind frontrunners Tottenham and Liverpool, losing just one of their ten Premier League matches in 2020/21.

With a jam-packed fixture schedule on the horizon, Lampard may deem it necessary to rest some of his key players on Wednesday. After all, Chelsea has already qualified for the Round of 16.

We all know that Sevilla is no pushover. The Spaniards won the Europa League last season and further cemented their status as one of the best tournament teams on the continent. Having said that, Chelsea is on a seemingly unstoppable run right now.

Ultimately, I believe the odds for the draw offer the best value here. Both teams are tough to break down, so I’m expecting the points to be shared between two resolute sides.