Sevilla vs Barcelona: Preview and Projected Lineups

Blaugrana faces another rough test away from home as they travel to take on Sevilla in Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

Barcelona had a rough midweek, where they lost 3-1 away from home to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side. Unfortunately for them, they make another long trip this weekend to take on the fourth place Sevilla.

The Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium is one of the toughest and most intimidating stadiums in Europe, highlighted by the fact that Sevilla have won all seven of their La Liga and Champions League matches this campaign. That includes a big win over a strong Atletico Madrid side two weeks ago, where the home side dominated majority of the match.

Since the 4-0 home win over Manchester City, Barcelona have dropped in form. They have struggled in their last three games where they fell to City and scraped through Valencia and Granada.

Meanwhile it’s the exact opposite for the home side. Sevilla have won six out of last seven games in all competitions and are only a point away from Barcelona on the table.

However, the recent head to head records do not favor the hosts. In their previous five meetings dating back to last October, Barcelona have won four of them while Sevilla won only once. Coincidently, that lone win for them came at home last season around this time.

Great news for Sevilla is that their key playmaker Samir Nasri is back in training and could be set to start on Sunday. But the big blow for them is having Argentine defender Gabriel Mercado suspended for this match after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend. Nicolas Pareja, Benoit Tremoulinas, Michael Krohn-Dehli, and Carlos Fernandez are also ruled out due to injuries.

Visitors are also having injury problems of their own. Main players such as Andres Iniesta, Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and back up players like Jeremy Mathieu and Aleix Vidal are all out due to injuries. While Arda Turan is back in training on Friday and will be available for the match.

Barcelona started brightly against City on Wednesday, but after giving up an equalizer, they could no longer cope with the English side’s high pressing and relentless pressure. Their midfield seemed very weak without Iniesta and a new signing Andre Gomes failed to step up in the absence of the captain. Recent poor displays from both Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic is also a worrying sign for the Catalans.

Jorge Sampaoli took over Sevilla in the summer and the Argentine’s quick pressing, aggressive, and possession based style is getting the best out of the Andalusian club. He has played around with various formations like 3-4-1-2, 3-4-2-1, 3-6-1, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 and the base of all his systems is to crowd up the midfield with wing backs flying back and forth.

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Sevilla are the one team Barcelona do not want to face right now due to their playing style having many similarities with Manchester City’s. The Catalans are having trouble putting up with high tempo teams and they seem too exhausted to keep up with Sevilla’s incredible energy all over the pitch.

With key players missing in midfield and defense, they will have to play a game close to perfection to get a result in a tough place. Sevilla are currently on a great form especially at home, and it’s hard to imagine them losing this one. The hosts should run away with a 2-1 win.

Projected Line ups

Sevilla (3-4-2-1) – Sergio Rico; Carrico, Rami, Kolodziejczak; Escudero, Nasri, N’Zonzi, Mariano; Vitolo, Franco Vasquez; Vietto.

Barcelona (4-3-3) – Ter Stegen; Digne, Umtiti, Mascherano, Sergi Roberto; Busquets, Denis Suarez, Rakitic; Messi, Neymar, Suarez.