UEFA Cup Final 16 May

Joe Saumarez Smith`s expert picks for the UEFA Cup final on 16th May 2007.

UEFA Cup Final

Seville are undoubtedly the form side in this final – they still have a decent chance of winning a treble (La Liga and the Copa del Rey and this) – and they are the reigning Champions. They have beaten Espanyol 3-1 in La Liga on April 29th so we have some up to date form to go on between the two sides. So are they an automatic pick? At the odds, I don’t think they are. Espanyol won 2-1 at home against Seville on December 3rd last year and they are Cup specialists. Their route to the final has arguably been hard than that of Seville and the way they took Werder Bremen apart 3-0 in the first leg of their semi final suggests they can match most sides in Europe. At a neutral venue and with a fully fit front three of Pandiani, Tamudo and Luis Garcia they really should not be quite so under-rated. Have a two point bet on Espanyol (+ ½) at 1.90.

Espanyol drew 1-1