The lowdown on Sevilla FC
Barça and Sevilla meet on Sunday at 9pm CEST, with Barça back at the Estadi Olímpic following the international break. Here's the lowdown on a team that's currently 12th in the Liga table.
WHERE ARE THEY FROM?
The magnificent city of Seville is the capital of the most southernmost province on the European mainland, Andalusia. It is home to the world famous Alcázar palace, and very much typifies the ‘real’ Spain of flamenco, bullfighting and very hot temperatures.
HISTORY
FC Barcelona v Sevilla is a meeting of two of the oldest clubs in La Liga. Founded in 1899, Barça was for many years deemed to be the more senior of the two, but UEFA and FIFA have recently endorsed the claim that the Sevilla Football Club officially registered in 1905 was, for all effects and purposes, a continuation of the club of the same name set up by British expatriates in 1890.
Sevilla have only won La Liga once, and that was way back in 1946, and the last decade or so, with a record seven UEFA Cups/Europa Leagues (2006, 2007, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 and yet again in 2023) has been their most successful period ever.
HEAD TO HEAD
Considering the Sevilla of recent years is one of the strongest ever, Barça have had some extraordinarily good results against them.
They have only lost three times to the Andalusians in their last 39 meetings across all competitions.
In La Liga, Barça have now gone for 17 games without losing to Sevilla either at home or away, and the last five have all been straight wins for the Catalans.
Last five meetings:
26/05/24 (LIGA) Sevilla 1 Barça 2 (Lewandowski, Fermin)
29/09/23 (LIGA) Barça 1 (OG) Sevilla 0
05/02/23 (LIGA) Barça 3 (Alba, Gavi, Raphinha) Sevilla 0
03/09/22 (LIGA) Sevilla 0 Barça 3 (Raphinha, Lewandowski, E Garcia)
03/04/22 (LIGA) Barça 1 (Pedri) Sevilla 0
FORM GUIDE
After finishing a disappointing 14th last season and failing to qualify for Europe for the first time since 2003, this season hasn't been too pretty by Sevilla's normally high standards either. They couldn't win any of their first four matches, and although things are now working for them at home, with three victories in a row, including a big result when they beat local rivals Real Betis 1-0 just before the break, they are still looking for their first three points on the road.
THE PLAYERS
The main goal-getter at Sevilla is Belgian international Dodi Lukébakio, with three to his name so far. Another player to look out for is Nigerian winger Chidera Ejuke, who has completed more dribbles (28) than any other player in Europe's five biggest leagues. This will also be the last time Barça will face stalwart Jesús Navas, who has announced that he'll be hanging up his boots at the end of December.
Most capped internationals:
Ørjan Nyland (Norway, 58), Jesús Navas (Spain, 56), Nemanja Gudelj (Serbia, 64), Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria, 55), Djibril Sow (Switzerland, 41), Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina, 34), Dodi Lukebakio (Belgium, 22), Saul (Spain, 19)
Barça connections
Catalan forward Peque played 42 games for the Barça reserves between 2019 and 2022 before leaving for Santander, and joined Sevilla at the start of this season.
THE BOSS
Sevilla sacked two managers in a turbulent last season, and the man who now faces the task of getting this proud club back on track is a familiar face to FC Barcelona fans. García Pimienta (pictured above) came up through the blaugrana youth system and even played one game for the first team, but it was in coaching that he was destined to shine more than on the field.
It was he who led the Barça U19s to the 2018 UEFA Youth League title, after which he managed Barça Atlètic for three years. His following job was at Las Palmas, who he guided back into the first division. After helping the Canary Islanders to retain that status last season (despite losing both games to Barça), he accepted an offer from Sevilla in the summer.