Prematch Report : Sevilla host FC Barcelona
On Tuesday night, FC Barcelona will play Sevilla FC at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium. Sevilla will come to this game pretty much high on confidence and also momentum, having orchestrated a brilliant 2-1 over defending champions Atletico Madrid in their previous game in La Liga.
Sevilla have been potent La Liga opponents to play against thus far. After 17 league games, their only defeats have was against Real Madrid, and a 1-0 away loss to Granada. They have managed to win 11 games and 4 have ended in stalemates. Thus, they occupy second spot in the league table only six points adrift of league leaders Real Madrid. Moreover, the side from Madrid have played a game more.
For Barcelona, this game on Tuesday will offer them an opportunity to build on their resilient 3-2 home triumph over Elche over the weekend. That win came after three winless games in all competitions going into that particular game. Xavi’s men really needed to beat Elche so as to keep their top four hopes alive. And they did it dramatically after surrendering a 2-0 lead only to later win the game by the skin of their teeth.
Aim to finish 2021 on a high
On Tuesday, as Barcelona aim for another away win of the season to close in on the top four, Sevilla’s mission would be to bag another home victory and reduce the gulf between them and pace-setters, Real Madrid. The very fact Sevilla have not won a single La Liga game against Barcelona since the October of 2015, will further fuel their desire to end this winless streak (L8, D3).
Barcelona have remained unbeaten in their last 3 away games in the league. The Catalans have won just once and the other two games have ended in draws. It remains to be seen how they will fare against a Sevilla side that have dropped only two points at home (W7, D1). Given FC Barcelona’s struggles away from Camp Nou this season, producing a win at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium is likely to be an uphill battle. Especially when key players will be missing in action. Talk of Ansu Fati, Pedri, Memphis Depay, and so on.
This game promises to be absorbing. Barcelona’s struggles so far this season. However, if previous meetings between these two clubs are anything to go by, the visitors will fancy a win. Sevilla’s current form in the league is very impressive. That means they believe a La-Liga win over Barcelona for 1st time since 2015 is possible. Whereas Barcelona will look to Gavi for inspiration, Rakitic will serve as a beacon of hope for Sevilla.
