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FC Barcelona host Sevilla FC in La Liga Matchday 30

By Benjamin Barkworth

SEVILLE, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 06: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the match between Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona as part of La Liga at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)
SEVILLE, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 06: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks on during the match between Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona as part of La Liga at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on November 6, 2016 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images) /
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Barcelona have a pivotal midweek fixture against Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla.

Form

The Catalans go into this game in good form after picking up where they left off, before the international break, with a win against Granada at the weekend. Prior to the international break, they had won four of their last five games and seven of their last ten.

Sevilla are in a slump currently, a five game winning run in all competitions has been followed by three draws and two losses. During this downturn in results they have been knocked out of the Champions League, and have fallen down to fourth in the table. Therefore, they will be desperate to get a result in this match to arrest this slump.

Squads

More from Analysis

Luis Enrique has a few issues to deal with for this match. Rafinha picked up a meniscus injury, in the last match, which means he is unavailable. Arda Turan is also out due to an injury he picked up the international break, and Aleix Vidal is a long-term absentee. Lionel Messi returns after his suspension, though, which is a welcome boost for this match. The Argentine playmaker also missed his country’s game against Bolivia, so he should be nice and refreshed for this match. Los Blanquirrojos are without Adil Rami and Carlos Fernández due to injury. Luciano Vietto, Benoît Trémoulinas and Ganso all miss out due to not being included in the matchday squad by Sampaoli.

Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva (L) and Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano (C) embrace to Sevilla’s Argentinian head coach Jorge Sampaoli before the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on November 6, 2016. / AFP / JORGE GUERRERO (Photo credit should read JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images)
Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar da Silva (L) and Argentinian midfielder Javier Mascherano (C) embrace to Sevilla’s Argentinian head coach Jorge Sampaoli before the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on November 6, 2016. / AFP / JORGE GUERRERO (Photo credit should read JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images) /

History

Barcelona have dominated the recent history of the fixture, which covers the managerial reigns of Jorge Sampaoli and Unai Emery. In all competitions, Barça have won seven of the last ten games. Sampaoli is still waiting for his first positive result against the Catalans with three losses so far. In terns of goals, there has been thirteen in the last five games and forty in the last ten games. Barcelona’s recent form and Sevilla’s desire to get out of this slump means that this game has the potential to carry on the high scoring tradition.

Next: 3TWL: Granada CF vs FC Barcelona

Playing Style

Under Sampaoli, Sevilla have played a high intensity, fluid style, which emphasises pressing the opposition high up the pitch. The idea behind it is that each player is smart enough tactically to fill in where they are needed on the pitch. This has led to the strikers coming deep with the full-backs sometimes being the players highest up the pitch as they fill the empty space vacated by the forwards.

Their chief creative threat is Samir Nasri who orchestrates play from the centre of midfield. This has worked well for the majority of the season, but recently his inconsistency and temperament have caused issues. Barcelona should be able to control midfield if they play in a 3-4-3 diamond formation.

In the reverse fixture, Sevilla dominated possession, but Barça excelled on the counter-attack. The Catalans showed their tactical flexibility with some ruthless counter-attacking. Lionel Messi was a major threat in particular with a deadly combination of skilled dribbling and composed finishing.

This game is likely to be different because Sevilla will be lacking in confidence, compared to the last fixture between the two, due to their recent form. The formation change that Enrique implemented in February will be important.

Moving to a 3-4-3 diamond gives the team more control in the midfield, and allows Messi the freedom to orchestrate. Therefore, Sevilla are likely to struggle to have any control over game, which doesn’t suit them. As a team, they aren’t used to sitting deep and playing compact. This means that the M-S-N trio should be able to cut through them with their incisive play. It will be a tough match, but Barcelona should have more than enough quality to win this pivotal fixture.

Prediction: FC Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla FC

Predicted Lineup

Denis Suárez suits Rafinha’s role more than Paco Alcácer even though Alcácer played on the right against Granada.