Opposition Report: Sevilla

FC Barcelona must secure all three points against an inferior Sevilla side

On Saturday night, 21:00 CET, FC Barcelona will host Sevilla as they look to continue their great start to the domestic season, with eight wins and one defeat heading into this one, with a three-point gap to second place.

So, what can we expect from Sevilla? Let’s take a look at how they are shaping up ahead of this clash on Saturday night.

Sevilla are currently managed by Garcia Pimienta, who managed to get Las Palmas promoted to La Liga and kept them up in their first season back up, despite a couple of poor months to end the season.

It has been a mixed start to life in Seville for Pimienta, with 12 points from nine games so far, leaving the club in 12th place. They fit the criteria of mid-table mediocrity, but after a couple of years of looking over their shoulder with relegation flirts, perhaps that is what they need right now.

Sevilla have only scored nine goals in their nine league games so far, although their ten goals conceded are pretty respectable and only one more than Barca. As a result, this game could be a bit of a tough watch, and it might have to be one of those wins you grind out.

The dangerman is Belgium international Dodi Lukebakio, who has three goals from the right wing – a third of their total goals. He scored the winner last time out in the Seville derby against Real Betis, and the 27-year-old provides pace and trickery that Hansi Flick’s side will have to make sure they combat.

Elsewhere, it is a pretty middling squad with little quality over the pitch. Saul Niguez, who Barca fans will be familiar with after all the games against Atletico Madrid over the years – is set to miss this one through injury. Dijibri Sow is also set to be unavailable through injury. Meanwhile, Tanguy Nianzou is suspended for the match

Barca’s injury list is much longer than Sevilla’s, but their quality and depth, of course, dwarfs their counterparts. It is important to be fully focused on this game to keep, or ideally extend, the clubs lead at the top of the table – and not have one eye on the midweek game against Bayern Munich.

With Lamine Yamal perhaps not risked for this one, having picked up an injury on international duty, we could see Raphinha in his natural position of right-wing for this one. The question then is – who will play on the left wing?