Barcelona vs Sevilla
Spanish La Liga
Date: Saturday, 20 October 2018
Kick-Off at 19:45 UK / 20:45 CET
Venue: Camp Nou (Barcelona).
Barcelona did not really need to break a sweat in La Liga last term. Indeed, the Catalan giants lost just one of their 38 matches, winning 28 times, to storm to the title. They finished 14 points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, and were rightly installed as the favourites to retain the title.
It has not quite been the start to the season that the fans would have expected, however, with the 25-time Spanish champions dropping points in four of their eight league matches this term. They are actually without a win in their last four in the top flight, which has led to criticism of head coach Ernesto Valverde.
Valverde led Barcelona to a La Liga and Copa del Rey double in his first season at the club, but his long-term future is very much undecided. Indeed, the 54-year-old will be out of contract at the end of this season, and neither he nor the club have made a move to activate an extension.
Barcelona's last La Liga win was a 2-1 success at Real Sociedad on September 15. Since then, they have drawn with Girona, Athletic Bilbao and Valencia, in addition to suffering a 2-1 defeat at Leganes. Even early in the season when Barcelona were winning, the performances were not quite there.
In another season, the team's slow start to the campaign might well have left them with ground to make up. Both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have had their issues this term, however, and Barcelona are just one point off the top of the division entering this weekend's clash with Sevilla.
In terms of what is ahead for the Catalan giants, they have the small matter of El Clasico at home to Real Madrid next weekend, but will also host Inter Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Valverde's side are two from two in Europe this term, and will be looking to take a firm control of the section with a victory against the Italian giants on October 24.
Barcelona have drawn their last two La Liga matches on home soil, but are unbeaten in Camp Nou in the league since September 2016, and will be looking to return to winning ways against a very dangerous Sevilla team.
Sevilla
Now under the leadership of exciting young manager Pablo Machin, Sevilla have made serious waves in La Liga this season. Indeed, only Barcelona (19) have scored more goals (18) than Sevilla in the league this term, and the White and Reds currently sit top of the division ahead of the clash at Camp Nou.
There is every chance that Sevilla will be knocked off the summit before kickoff due to the fact that Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are both in action on Saturday afternoon, but for the moment at least, first position belongs to Sevilla.
Machin's side opened their 2018-19 La Liga campaign with a 4-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano, before drawing with Villarreal, and losing to both Real Betis and Getafe in their next two. At that point, question marks were being asked about a team that finished seventh in Spain's top flight last term.
Sevilla put six goals past Levante in Valencia on September 23, however, before recording a 3-0 home win over Real Madrid three days later. Since then, Sevilla have beaten Eibar and Celta Vigo to move onto 16 points in the division.
Andre Silva – on loan from AC Milan – has seven La Liga goals to his name this season, and the 22-year-old has formed a strong relationship with Wissam Ben Yedder, who has five top-flight strikes to his name this term.
Jesus Navas also appears to have found a second wind this season, and Machin's new system, which features three central defenders and wing-backs, is certainly capable of upsetting Barcelona at Camp Nou this weekend.
That said, Sevilla have only been victorious in one of their last five La Liga matches with Barcelona, and have lost on their last six league visits to Camp Nou, which is an indication of the size of their task on Saturday night.
Barcelona vs Sevilla: Head-to-head
Barcelona were the dominant force in this match-up over the years.
Blaugrana won 35, drew 11 and lost 11 of 57 encounters against Sevillistas.
Barcelona won 9 and drew 1 of last 10 matches against Los Rojiblancos.
Three or more goals were seen in all of last seven head to head outings between the two sides.
Barcelona vs Sevilla: Bet Tips
BTTS @ 1.50 (1/2)
Over 3.5 goals FT @ 1.72 (8/11).