Shakhtar – Sevilla

Europa League heroes FC Sevilla will look for their 3rd consecutive trophy in the competition and the 5th in 10 years, but until the final they will have to take on Shakhtar Donetsk, with the first leg set to be played in L’viv.

Shakhtar did a fantastic job to defeat Braga 6-1 aggregate in the previous Europa League round, including an emphatic 4-0 win at home. Unfortunately for the hosts their performances in Ukraine were not at the same level. Shakhtar won just 1 out of the last 4 domestic matches and their 1-1 result against Chernomorets Odessa over the weekend virtually ended their title hopes, as they now trail Dynamo Kiev by 7 points with 3 rounds to go.

FC Sevilla is on the back of a 2-0 win over rivals Betis, a result that will surely boost their confidence coming into this clash. It was the first win in La Liga for Sevilla after winning a single point in the previous 6 games, but on the other hand they don`t have much left to fight for in the league and they also had a very difficult schedule. Expect the visitors to turn up for this clash, as they always do in Europa League.

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Team news & lineups:

Mircea Lucescu will be able to field his best lineup with the exception of Azevedo and Fred, while FC Sevilla will have to do without Tremoulinas, Reyes, Andreolli and possibly Rami.

Sahtior Donetsk: Pyatov – Srna, Rakitskiy, Kucher, Ismaily – Stepanenko, Malyshev – Marlos, Kovalenko, Taison – Ferreyra

FC Sevilla: Soria – Mariano, Rami, Kolodziejczak, Escudero – Krychowiak, N’Zonzi – Vitolo, Banega, Krohn-Dehli – Gameiro

Sevilla’s record away from home this season is just terrible with 4 wins in 28 matches, 3 of them in the Copa Del Rey. However, they did win their last Europa League road game against Athletic Bilbao (losing at home, qualifying via penalties) and they will benefit from the fact that Shakhtar isn`t exactly playing at home, having to travel themselves to L’Viv.

The hosts have done well in Europe this season, but realistically speaking they are not playing lights out lately and they are definitely not the same team they were in the last years. Sevilla isn`t turning any heads recently either, but the visitors have a ton of Europa League experience, are a better team and I reckon they will claim a positive result here. Considering their road struggles it might be difficult to win, so I can see a draw happening here, but I will protect the bet in case Sevilla pulls of the victory.

My tip on this EL semifinal 1st leg is a draw on the “Sevilla win no bet” market (a draw wins the bet, void bet in case of away win). Prediction: Shakhtar Donetsk – FC Sevilla 1-1.

Pick: Draw – Sevilla win no bet
Odds: 2.10 @ Ladbrokes
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 8.80
Event date: 28 April