Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Sevilla
Match Time & Date:
20/09/2018
12:55 PM
Prediction: 2-1
St Liege
Estadio Ramon Pizjuan will host Thursday’s football game between Sevilla and Standard Liege. Los Sevillanos have been having a lot of success in Europa League in the 21st century and they are once again considered one of main favourites to win the title. It is well known that the Andalusian side are a real force to be reckoned with at home and seeing that Standard Liege’s away record in European competitions is anything but good, we are tempted to put our money on the hosts. A man to watch in the home team will be summer signing Andre Silva, who has already found his goal-scoring touch. As previously mentioned, the Belgians often struggle on the travels and you should bear in mind that they recorded only two wins in previous 11 away games in the Europa League. In their last meeting in the Europa League los Sevillanos emerged triumphant.
Highlighted Player (Maxime Gonalons):
The 27-year-old France international defensive midfielder Maxime Gonalons has been with Lyon since the tender age of 10, climbing through the club’s rank all the way to the first-team regular and club captain. Gonalons made his competitive debut for Lyon in 2009 against Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions League playoof round when he came on for Jeremy Toulalan.
During the seven seasons with Lyon’s first-team, Maxime Gonalons established himself as the mainstay completing the total of 212 Ligue 1 appearances. Reliable midfielder has been a major impact in Lyon’s Champions League challenges as well, taking part in all of his club’s five appearances in Europe’s elite competition last year.
Playing in the holding role at Lyon, Maxime Gonalons’ influence is pivotal as the French international adds much needed steel to the midfield allowing his more creative teammates the freedom and carelessness upfront. His locker room impact is equally crucial as the 27-year-old midfielder is an imposing figure both on and off the pitch.
Highlighted Team (St Liege):
Standard are a Belgian football club based in Liege. The club was founded back in 1898 and 11 years later they joined Belgian First League. Les Rouches (the Reds) immediately dropped to the lower leagues, but in 1921 they returned to the Belgian top flight. Standard won their first Belgian League trophy in 1958, but you should have in mind that they were level on points with second-placed Royal Antwerp.
In 2009 the Reds clinched their tenth domestic title, beating Anderlecht in the title game. Talented midfielder Axel Witsel scored the winner for Standard in the 1-0 triumph over their bitter rivals. Standard play their home games at Stade Maurice Dufrasne, the venue that was opened in 1909. The capacity of the stadium is 30 023.
Maurice Dufrasne was the club’s chairman from 1909 until 1931. Speaking of the club’s European success, Standard participated in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1982, losing to La Liga giants Barcelona in the title game.
