Barcelonavs.Sevilla

Hansi Flick's side are top of the La Liga table, picking up 24 points from their opening nine games of the season, while Sevilla have 12 points to show from nine matches, which has left them down in 12th spot.

Match preview

Barcelona have had huge injury problems this season, which makes their start to the campaign even more impressive, winning eight of their nine league matches to sit at the top of the division at this stage of proceedings.

The Catalan outfit have 24 points to show for their efforts this season, which has left them three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, while they have netted 28 times in La Liga this term, which is comfortably the best attacking record.

Barcelona were shocked by Osasuna at the end of September, suffering a 4-2 defeat, but their response to that setback was impressive, thumping Young Boys 5-0 in the Champions League before winning 3-0 at Alaves in the league.

Lamine Yamal has again been a standout performer for Barcelona this season, but Robert Lewandowski has been their main source of goals, finding the back of the net on 10 occasions in nine outings in Spain's top flight.

Barcelona are entering a huge week of football, as they will welcome Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday evening before visiting Real Madrid in El Clasico next weekend.

The Catalan side have dominated their recent meetings with Sevilla, winning each of their last five encounters, while they have not been beaten by Sunday's opponents in Spain's top flight since October 2015.

Sevilla have actually only overcome Barcelona once in the league since March 2007, while not since December 2002 have they managed to beat the Catalan giants away from home in La Liga.

A disastrous 2023-24 campaign saw Los Nervionenses finish down in 14th spot in the table, which proved to be their worst final position since being relegated from the top flight in 2000.

Now under the management of Garcia Pimienta, Sevilla have picked up 12 points from their nine league matches this season to sit 12th in the table, 12 points behind their opponents on Sunday night.

The visitors will enter this match in strong form, though, having picked up seven points from their last three matches, including a 1-0 success over Real Betis in the Seville derby before the international break.

Sevilla have now lost just one of their last five games in La Liga, while they have only been beaten in one of their three away league fixtures this term, sharing the points with Las Palmas, Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona La Liga form:

W

W

W

W

L

W

Barcelona form (all competitions):

L

W

W

L

W

W

Sevilla La Liga form:

L

W

L

W

D

W

Team News

Barcelona will definitely be missing Ferran Torres, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo for this weekend's contest with Sevilla.

However, Lewandowski and Yamal both trained on Thursday after picking up issues during the international break, and both players are expected to be in the squad.

Gavi, Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo could also be back in the squad against Sevilla, with the trio recovering from injury problems, but it would be a surprise to see any of the three start.

Wojciech Szczesny is also expected to be in the squad, with the experienced goalkeeper now available for selection, although Inaki Pena is likely to continue between the sticks for the moment.

As for Sevilla, Saul Niguez and Djibril Sow will miss the match through injury, while Tanguy Nianzou is suspended after being sent off in the Seville derby against Real Betis last time out.

Kike Salas is likely to be the player to benefit in terms of the starting side, but it might otherwise be the team that took to the field for the first whistle against Real Betis before the international break.

Isaac Romero is likely to continue as the centre-forward, with Peque Fernandez operating as the number 10, while Jose Angel Carmona is expected to be given the nod over Jesus Navas at right-back.

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Casado, E Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Agoume, Gudelj; Lukebakio, Fernandez, Ejuke; Romero

We say: Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla

Barcelona have dominated this fixture throughout history, and we are struggling to see a scenario which involves them dropping points on Sunday night. Sevilla are an improving team, but Barcelona have been largely excellent in La Liga this season, and we fancy Flick's side to win this contest relatively comfortably.

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