S.P. Read Esq. Benfica v Sevilla. Europa League Final

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq got off to a flyer in his first column to coincide with the launch of starspreads.com. He went for the superiority market Leyton Orient v Peterborough and was rewarded with a profit of 5.5 points to recommended stakes.

Now, I won’t say that the Europa League competition goes on for a long time but I’d swear I was in shorts when this season’s tournament began.

It’s been even longer since Sevilla and Benfica last played each other. We have to go all the way back to September 1957 for that memorable 0-0 draw.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORDS
(Maximum 10)
Sep 1957 European Cup Benfica 0-0 Sevilla
Sep 1957 European Cup Sevilla 3-1 Benfica

The match tonight takes place in the relatively new Juventus Stadium in Turin and the big question is whether Benfica can finally lay to rest their shocking run in European finals.

They have now lost their last seven major European finals, most recently to Chelsea in last year’s final of this competition and have not won a European trophy since the 1961/62 European Cup.

Sevilla, on the other hand, have won both the European finals they have reached, beating Middlesbrough in the 2006 UEFA Cup and Espanyol in the same competition in 2007.

Benfica look solid favourites. They are the first side to contest a Europa League final without losing game. They are unbeaten in eight consecutive Europa League Matches and have also secured their domestic title with ease, suffering only their second league defeat of the season when the title was in the bag and manager Jorge Jesus no doubt had this match as his top priority. The club are on course for a historic quadruple too.

Jesus told uefa.com: “I think neither side will go into the final as favourites – we both have a 50/50 chance of winning, You have to be really good to reach a final, and I have a great deal of respect for this Sevilla side who will compete in the final with us. They have every right to win this competition outright. ”

Benfica are without winger Eduardo Salvio and midfielder Enzo Perez, who are suspended for the match in Turin whilst Sevilla winger Jairo Samperio misses the final through suspension and midfielders Denis Cheryshev and Sebastian Cristoforo are also absent with foot and knee injuries respectively.

I think the bookings market looks interesting.

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Tonight’s ref Felix Brych isn’t adverse to getting out his cards (5 yellows and 2 reds in his latest match) and as such I’m a buyer on Star Spreads at around 52.

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• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
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