PREVIEW: Sevilla v FC Barcelona

After scoring four goals in their last two games, FC Barcelona will be hoping to continue their good form as they travel to Sevilla on Saturday for a 9pm CEST start.

The blaugrana are one of just five teams that remains unbeaten. Real Madrid, Real Betis, Athletic Club and Villarreal are the others.

In theory, this is one of the hardest games on the Liga fixture list. The Andalusians finished fourth last season to qualify for yet another Champions League. However, the Catalans are on an impressive run of 13 league games without losing to Sevilla, while the home side have hardly started their campaign the way they would have wanted.

They have only picked up one point from their opening three games. They suffered 2-1 defeats at both Osasuna and Almería, and could only draw 1-1 at home to Valladolid. It’s their poorest start to a Liga season since 1981.

Team news

There have been all kinds of changes in the build-up to the closure of the transfer market, with two last-minute signings in defenders Marcos Alonso from Chelsea and Hector Bellerin from Arsenal. Both players trained with the squad on Friday, but neither is in the squad for Saturday.

Meanwhile, Aubameyang was sold to Chelsea and Ez Abde and Sergiño Dest have departed on loan to Osasuna and AC Milan respectively, while an agreement was reached to terminate Martin Braithwaite's contract.

With no injuries or suspensions to worry about, Xavi's 23-man squad for Sevilla looks like this:

Xavi says

"Tomorrow is a difficult game at Sevilla, against a Champions League quality team. One point from nine is deceptive. I watched all three games and they deserved more. Lopetegui has been doing a great job with the club. How easily people forget.“

"The transfer situation was between the best and intermediate. I could have done with some other player, but I’m happy and have no complaints.”

"We are a team and I’m very happy with Mateu Alemany, Jordi Cruyff and the president. The club is in very good hand with these people.”

"I’m very sorry for Aubameyang, like all the players who have left. Everyone has shown a great attitude, even the ones we told in May that they weren’t part of our plans. Aubameyang did so much to help us and is a treasure of a person.”

Did you know?

Barça have only lost one of their last 15 league games away to Sevilla (a 2-1 defeat in 2015).

Sevilla (65.2%) is the only team that has a higher possession count than Barça after the first three games of the season.

Sevilla lost nine of the 22 games they played without Jules Kounde in the side since 2019/20. He’s clearly a key player, but he is now playing for FC Barcelona!

Watch out for Ousmane Dembélé. The Frenchman has either scored or given an assist in his last five games against Sevilla.