By Barcelona, current leaders of La Liga, are set to host Sevilla at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday night, aiming to secure their ninth domestic victory of the season. Under the guidance of Hansi Flick, Barcelona have amassed an impressive 24 points from nine matches, sitting three points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.
The Catalan giants have showcased remarkable resilience this season, overcoming significant injury setbacks to dominate La Liga. Their attacking prowess has been particularly noteworthy, netting 28 goals – the highest in the league. Young sensation Lamine Yamal continues to shine, while Robert Lewandowski leads the scoring charts with 10 goals in nine appearances.
Barcelona enter a crucial week, with this match preceding a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich and El Clasico against Real Madrid. Their recent form against Sevilla bodes well, having won their last five encounters and remaining unbeaten in the fixture since October 2015.
Sevilla, under new manager Garcia Pimienta, have shown signs of improvement after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. Currently 12th in the table with 12 points, Los Nervionenses have lost only one of their last five league games. Their away form has been particularly solid, with just one defeat in three road fixtures this season.
Team News:
Barcelona face a challenging injury list, with Ferran Torres, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, and Ronald Araujo ruled out. However, Lewandowski and Yamal are expected to feature after recovering from minor issues. Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo could return to the squad, though likely not as starters. Wojciech Szczesny is available, but Inaki Pena is expected to continue in goal.
Sevilla will miss Saul Niguez and Djibril Sow due to injury, while Tanguy Nianzou is suspended. Kike Salas is likely to start in defense, with Isaac Romero leading the attack and Peque Fernandez in the number 10 role. Jose Angel Carmona is favored over Jesus Navas at right-back.
Possible lineups:
Barcelona (4-3-3): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Casado, E Garcia, Pedri; Yamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha
Sevilla (4-2-3-1): Nyland; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Agoume, Gudelj; Lukebakio, Fernandez, Ejuke; Romero
Prediction: Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla
Despite Sevilla’s recent improvement, Barcelona’s dominance in this fixture and their excellent La Liga form make them strong favorites. The home side’s attacking prowess, even with injury concerns, should prove too much for Sevilla’s defense. Expect a controlled performance from Flick’s men as they look to maintain their league lead and build momentum for their upcoming crucial fixtures.
This match offers Barcelona an opportunity to solidify their position atop La Liga, while Sevilla will be keen to prove their resurgence against one of Spain’s top sides. The contrast between Barcelona’s high-flying attack and Sevilla’s improving defense sets the stage for an intriguing tactical battle at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
