Sevilla FC vs FC Barcelona

Sunday, November 6th, 2016
Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium
2:45pm EST, BEIN Sports

Welcome back Folks! The 2016-17 season is now in full swing as clubs are a quarter of the way through its domestic campaigns, as well as participating in its domestic and European cup obligations.  With this fixture frenzy comes plenty of marque matches for fans to get excited about. As a key example, this week we have the Champions and Europa Leagues midweek coupled with some highly entertaining domestic games at the weekend.  With that said, no game will feature more passion this week than Sevilla vs Barcelona, as these two Spanish sides will be sure to show their flamenco flair in this one.  I’ll discuss the significance of the match, touch on key players, personal problems, and provide a victor….if there is one.

Sunday’s La Liga matchup will pit fourth place Sevilla against second place Barcelona, in what is sure to be a feisty affair at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Sevilla, Spain.  With both squads separated by just a point, and sitting within a game’s reach of first place Real Madrid, the importance of getting a “W” and earring a full three points to stay within arms length of the Galaticos is magnified.  Thus, La Blaugrana and Los Rojiblancos are sure to play fast and physical the second the whistle blows.  And if the significance of staying in the top four of the standings wasn’t enough, this will already mark the third meeting between these clubs this season.  Why? Whelp, Sevilla and Barca squared off at the season’s start by playing in the two-legged Spanish Supercopa, with the Cules winning 5-0 on aggregate (2-0 and 3-0).  Thus, expect Sevilla to empty the tank as they seek revenge on those defeats, as well as last year’s 2-0 Copa del Rey loss that was suffered at the feet of the Catalans as well.

So, you’re probably thinking that Barca, who won the past four meetings, simply has Sevilla’s number and this game should be a shoe-in victory for the Catalans. Well you’re wrong, and hears why.  For starters, the last time Barca lost to Sevilla was last season at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where the match will be played this weekend.  Secondly, Sevilla is still a very talented team, a team that’s won three consecutive Europa League Titles running, something that’s never happened before.  And thirdly, Barcelona has a plethora of player problems, called injuries.  For this fixture, Barcelona will be without its starting center back Gerard Pique, starting left back Jordi Alba, starting midfielder and captain Andres Iniesta, backup center half Jeremy Mathieu, and likely backup right back Aleix Vidal all due to injury.  As a result, manager Luis Enrique had to call up three Barca B (academy) players to fill out the roster last Saturday and will likely have to do so again this go round.  The depth of the squad is being tested, in particular the backline, as La Blaugrana has been vulnerable to giving up quality scoring chances whenever Pique has been out of the lineup.  Also in terms of creating forward up the field, the loss of Iniesta is devastating by itself let alone coupled with Alba.  This likely means that Messi will drop further back to receive the ball and play more creator and distributor, which he’s magical at, but that will leave Barca with one less true goal scorer up front.  Also, the loss of Alba means that the young Lucas Digne, who has played well this season when given the opportunity, will have to try and fill the void up the left flank.  Alba is so deadly pushing forward with his blistering pace and accurate crosses into the box, Digne will have big shoes to fill.

Thus, Sevilla will most definitely have a chance in this match.  They’ve proven that they can compete and win against Spain’s Big three, most recently beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 a couple weeks back.  Sevilla must be aggressive and put as much pressure on the wounded Catalan back four as possible when Barca is attempting to play from out of the back, as well as when Sevilla has possession and is pushing forward.  Also, Los Rojiblancos must convert when they get their chances— I’m looking at you Wissam Ben Yedder and Luciano Vietto.  If not, then once again Barca will likely come out on top due to its front three fire power in the MSN whose surely to get on the score sheet at least once.

Furthermore, I expect a highly contested match between two of Spain’s top four clubs.  A match that is sure to be decided in the final ten minutes, with Barca solidifying itself in and around Sevilla’s eighteen yard box creating chance after chance, but Los Rojiblancos hold on with the help of its young up and coming goalkeeper Sergio Rico saving the day with his two hands.

LSB PREDICTION: 1-1 DRAW