Sevilla welcomes Barcelona to the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan as they lock horns in round four of La Liga football.
Venue: Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán (Sevilla)
Key Statistics
Sevilla have lost just one of their last 22 league games at home (W14, D7).
The hosts have won just one of their last eight league games (D5, L2).
They have kept one clean sheet in their last five league games.
Barcelona are unbeaten in their last 13 away league games (W8, D5).
They have scored eight goals in the league this season. Only Real Madrid (9) have scored more.
The visitors have scored 2+ goals in seven of their last ten away matches.
Head to head
Barcelona haven’t lost to Sevilla in the league since October 2015 (W9, D4).
Latest performances in all competition
Sevilla: L-D-L-W-L
Barcelona: W-D-W-D-W
Sevilla
Last season’s title challengers find themselves battling an early season rot and are yet to register a single win this season.
Julen Lopetegui’s work was made more difficult this season after losing first-choice defensive pairing Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde, even the addition of Isco, Kouassi and Alex Telles has done nothing to make the situation better.
The Spanish giants currently sit in 15th place in the La Liga standings and are in dire need of a win to turn their fortunes around and come into this tie off the back of a yet demoralizing loss to newly promoted Almeria.
Julen Lopetegui is currently walking a tightrope and may be shown the exit door if the fortunes around the club don’t improve in the coming weeks, and the Spaniard faces a daunting task coming up against a Barcelona side who have dominated this fixture for years and currently boast Lewandowski within their ranks and are looking to make a statement this season after losing out on any trophies last season.
Possible Sevilla starting line-up
Yassine Bounou; Jesús Navas, Nianzou Kouassi, Karim Rekik, Alex Telles; Joan Jordan, Fernando, Oliver Torres; Erik Lamela, Dario Gomez, Rafael Mir.
Injured: Marcao, Jesus Corona
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Barcelona
After opening their La Liga season with a draw at Rayo Vallecano Barcelona returned to claim two impressive victories, the latest of which was a 4-0 win over Real Valladolid last time out.
After spending so much money on transfers, Barcelona fans were finally able to see the kind of performance they expected with so much talent at their team’s disposal.
Xavi’s men put on an attacking and defensive masterclass, averaging more shots and chances created than they’ve done in all their games this season, also limiting Valladolid to only a few goal-scoring opportunities.
The Blaugrana are out to challenge for the title this season after watching on as their bitter rivals Real Madrid lifted both the La Liga and Champions League last season. Furthermore, the addition of Robert Lewandowski has given the Catalan club a real goalmouth threat, something they lacked for a huge part of last season.
The Pole helped himself to two goals last time out making it four in three for the Polish goal machine. And with Dembele back to his wizardly best, Xavi and his boys will have a lot of confidence going into this tie as they look to wrestle the league back from Madrid.
Possible Barcelona starting line-up
Marc Ter Stegen; Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Eric Garcia, Alex Balde; Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele.
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Sevilla 1-3 Barcelona
