La Liga | Gameweek 23

Feb 9, 2025 at 8pm UK

Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan

Sevilla vs Barcelona

Match preview

Sevilla have won seven, drawn seven and lost eight of their 22 league games this season, which has left them with 28 points and in 12th place in the table.

Last season, Los Nervionenses finished 14th in Spain's top flight, which was their worst season since being relegated in 1999-2000. This season has also been tough, and the team just isn't good enough to be a top-four challenger.

But the good news is, Garcia Pimienta's team are only four points behind sixth-placed Rayo Vallecano, so European football is still a possibility for next season. Sixth place would be a great result for the club.

Sevilla will be coming into this match on the back of a four-game unbeaten run in La Liga, having shared the points with Valencia, Espanyol and Getafe this year, as well as recording a 2-1 victory away to Girona.

Garcia Pimienta's team have also been solid at home this season, picking up 18 points from their 11 matches in front of their own fans, but Barcelona have the best away record, boasting 24 points from their 12 games on their travels.

Barcelona will enter the match off the back of a 5-0 win over Valencia in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, with Ferran Torres scoring three times in what was a dominant performance from the Catalan giants.

Hansi Flick's side have also won their last two league matches against Valencia and Alaves, and a total of 45 points from 22 matches has left them in third spot in the table, three points off second-placed Atletico Madrid and four from the leaders Real Madrid.

The top two in Spain meet on Saturday night at the Bernabeu, so Barcelona will catch up with at least one of the teams above them if they can get a good result on Sunday evening at the Estadio Ramon.

This season, Barcelona has endured three losses in La Liga at their temporary home ground. They suffered defeats against Las Palmas and Leganes. Moreover, in their last four league away games, three have resulted in draws.

However, when it comes to their encounters with Sevilla, Barcelona boasts an outstanding record. They have emerged victorious in each of the last six La Liga matches between the two clubs. In fact, Barcelona hasn't tasted defeat against their Sunday opponents in the Spanish top - flight since as far back as October 2015!

Team News

Sevilla will be without José Ángel Carmona through suspension, with the defender picking up a milestone yellow card in the team's goalless draw with Getafe last time out.

Joan Jordan and Tanguy Nianzou are also on the sidelines due to injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape, and there are not expected to be any major surprises in their XI.

Juanlu Sanchez is likely to benefit from Carmona's absence, but it's set to be the same front three from the last match, including Dodi Lukebakio, who has scored nine times in La Liga this season.

As for Barcelona, Andreas Christensen, Marc Bernal and Marc-Andre ter Stegen won't be playing, but Gavi should be cleared to feature after missing out against Valencia due to a head injury.

Head coach Flick is expected to make changes to the side that started against Valencia, with Marc Casado, Robert Lewandowski, Ronald Araujo and Gavi all set to be introduced into the XI.

Torres scored an excellent treble against his old club on Thursday, but the Spaniard is likely to be back on the bench here, with Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski and Raphinha set to feature as the front three.

The fit-again duo Dani Olmo and Inigo Martinez might both feature off the bench at Estadio Ramon.

Possible starting lineup

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Nyland; Sanchez, Bade, Gudelj, Pedrosa; Saul, Lokonga, Sow; Lukebakio, Romero, Vargas

Barcelona possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, Balde; Casado, Pedri; Yamal, Gavi, Raphinha; Lewandowski