PREVIEW | Sevilla FC v FC Barcelona
Barça head back to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán just 17 days after their last visit, a 2-0 defeat in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final. Coincidentally, the second leg of that tie will be played in the very next match on Wednesday, March 3.
In order to give themselves a fighting chance of remaining in the conversation for the league title, particularly with the Madrid derby to come in a week’s time, Barça can't afford to drop points in Andalusia.
Julen Lopetegui’s side are in good form, having not conceded in eight of their last nine games in all competitions, however, they face LaLiga Pichichi, Lionel Messi, fresh from taking the sole leadership of that race and looking to add to his 29 goals against them. The Argentinian has failed to score in his last two against Sevilla but has never gone three games against them without a goal.
It’s been six years since the home side beat Barça at the Sánchez-Pizjuán in LaLiga, something they've only managed on two occasions in the last 14 years, both times winning 2-1.
How to watch
The game kicks off at 4.15pm CET and is the first game of the wekend involving any of the teams in the top four. We have a worldwide guide to kick-off times and TV broadcasters here, and we also have minute by minute coverage of the action in our Match Center, including live commentary on Radio Barça.
La Liga state of play
Barça go into the match against Sevilla in third position after the midweek win over Elche. Two points behind eternal rivals Real Madrid but two ahead of the Andalusians, the blaugranes could end the weekend in either second, third or fourth depending on how results pan out.
Atlético Madrid’s stuttering form continues. After losing at home to Levante (0-2) last weekend, the Rojiblancos were also defeated in the Champions League by Chelsea (0-1). With the Madrid derby to come after this weekend’s game at Villarreal, there’s still all to play for.
Real Madrid earned a 0-1 win over 10-man Atalanta in their Champions League tie in midweek, following on from their victory by the same score against Valladolid in LaLiga. At the time of writing, they are three points behind their cross-city rivals, having played one game more. Their match against Real Sociedad will close this round of fixtures.
Last five games
(LIGA) Barça 3-0 Elche
(LIGA) Barça 1-1 Cádiz
(CHAMPIONS LEAGUE) Barça 1-4 Paris Saint Germain
(LIGA) Barça 5-1 Alavés
(COPA DEL REY) Sevilla 2-0 Barça
(LIGA) Osasuna 0-2 Sevilla
(CHAMPIONS LEAGUE) Sevilla 2-3 Borussia Dortmund
(LIGA) Sevilla 1-0 Huesca
(COPA DEL REY) Sevilla 2-0 Barça
(LIGA) Sevilla 3-0 Getafe
Did you know?
After drawing in the reverse fixture this season (1-1), Sevilla will look avoid defeat in both games against Barça in a LaLiga season for first time since 2002-03 (W1 D1).
At home, Sevilla have only won one of their last 13 games against Barça in LaLiga (D5 L7), 2-1 in October 2015 - although they have drawn two of the last three (L1).
Barça have won their last two away games against Andalusian sides in LaLiga (Granada and Real Betis), last winning three or more in a row in November 2016 (four).
Sevilla have won their last five home games in LaLiga, keeping a clean sheet in four of them. They have not won six or more home games in a row in the competition since December 2018 (6).
Barcelona have won their last six away games in LaLiga. If they win here, they will equal their fourth best run away from home in the competition (seven wins in a row in April 2012). Both runs are only surpassed by 12 wins in row in January 2011, 10 in January 2013 and nine in February 2009.
After scoring in his first two games against Barcelona in LaLiga, both for Valencia in 2016 and 2017 (two goals in total), Sevilla's Munir El-Haddadi has not scored in his last four meetings against Barcelona in the competition.
Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui
"I am expecting a great team [FC Barcelona] with extraordinary footballers and the best player in the world. It is exciting for us and it is a real test and we will have to be at our best in every sense, there is no other way to compete against them. They have important players back from injury and that just adds to the quality that they have."
Koeman says
"The games with Sevilla are two very different games. Tomorrow in the championship, on Monday in the cup. We need to try to win them both. We know the first leg score in the cup and tomorrow we have to continue our run in the league. Keep collecting points and putting pressure on the teams above us.”
“Leo Messi has scored 18 goals. All the other attackers together have the same number. He needs help too. You can’t always ask for the older or better players to do things. It’s the responsibility of the whole team, not just the veterans.”
"It’s as if we are the only team that plays important games. This weekend the top teams are playing each other. There’s pressure on everyone. There’s no more on us than there is on anyone else. If you are coaching Barça, there’s pressure on you in every game.”
“If a player is in the squad it’s because he has a chance to play. You’ll find out tomorrow if Ronald Araujo is playing.”
Squad named
Ronald Koeman announced his squad, consisting of 22 players: Ter Stegen, Dest, Piqué, R. Araujo, Sergio, Griezmann, Braithwaite, Messi, O. Dembélé, Riqui Puig, Neto, Lenglet, Pedri, Trincão, Jordi Alba, Matheus, F. De Jong, Umtiti, Junior, Iñaki Peña, Ilaix and O. Mingueza
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