Real Madrid v Sevilla Tips: Casemiro to test the keeper in crunch La Liga showdown

This weekend's La Liga action finishes with a cracker of a fixture as Real Madrid welcome Sevilla to the capital. 

The hosts currently sit in second place on 74 points, trailing Atletico by two points as I write. A victory for Zidane’s men could see them leapfrog their local rivals if they lose to Barca on Saturday, setting up a thrilling crescendo as we approach the home straight of the La Liga season. Los Blancos will be hoping to take maximum points from their remaining games as they have won just two of their last seven, drawing four and losing one. Price wise though the bookies do fancy them posting them up around 10/11 to secure the three points here. 

Zinedine Zidane will be without Raphael Varane, Lucas Vazquez and Dani Carvajal. This should mean Federico Valverde gets the nod at right-wing back and Nacho should also feature on the left side of the back three. Elsewhere, Eden Hazard should continue alongside Karim Benzema uptop. 

As for the visitors, defeat to Athletic Club last time out more or less ruled them out of a late charge for the La Liga title, however, they can still have their say on who wins the title with a result this weekend.

With Vazquez and Carvajal sidelined, Valverde should get the nod at the right hand side of Los Blancos defence. Following a serious injury, the Uruguayan midfielder has rarely featured this campaign. However, despite only playing 489 minutes in the UCL he has managed to rack up three cards, the latest of which coming on Wednesday vs Chelsea. 

As just mentioned, Valverde has predominantly featured in midfield, but needs must means he has found himself filling in at RWB for Zidane as the team becomes stretched with injuries. This is relatively unfamiliar territory for Valverde and although he has taken to it well he may struggle to contain Sevilla’s offensive catalyst Lucas Ocampos. The Argentine winger is Sevillistas Rojiblancos’ most fouled player by some distance as he draws an average of 2.5 per game. 

Since joining Real Madrid, Casemiro has made his name as the enforcer amongst the Galacticos often providing the balance in midfield. However, this campaign he has popped up with some pivotal shots in some lacklustre Madrid performances. 

In his last 13 league starts, Casemiro has registered at least one shot in eleven games, meeting this line of two in 62% of these fixtures, accumulating 29 shots in that time. During that time he has scored twice and registered three assists as this bet has landed in Real Madrid’s last two league games.

You can combine a Valverde card with a Diego Carlos card at odds of 11/1 using Bet365’s ‘Bet Builder’. With nine cards to his name in La Liga this season he is his sides most booked player and could be in for a difficult afternoon opposing the tricky Hazard.  

Best of luck if you are joining me in any of these selections and please remember to gamble responsibly.