PREVIEW | Sevilla v FC Barcelona

Having secured a Copa del Rey semi-final berth with a resounding 5-0 win at Valencia on Thursday, and with no need to worry about the Champions League playoffs because they are already assured a place in the last 16, FC Barcelona's attention is fully focused on La Liga for the next three games.

The first of three fixtures in the domestic championship is traditionally one of the toughest. Sevilla away, kick-off on Sunday 9pm CET. That said, Barça's recent track record in this match-up is nothing short of perfect.

Opportunity

And that nasty slump that saw the team drop from being comfortably top down to third in the table seems to have been left in the past, with consecutive wins against Valencia and Alavés having improved the situation considerably. Now it's time to start getting wins on the road again, after the last four away trips all ended in draws.

And it is also the perfect opportunity to tidy up the situation with respect to the two frontrunners. One or other of Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid was always going to drop points this weekend as they met in the derby, but as it happens they both did, Saturday's game ending 1-1. It means a win today would lift Barça up to within just one point of Atlético, and two behind leaders Real. Check out the full standings right here.

Sevilla struggling

Today's Andalusian hosts, winners of the UEFA Cup/Europa League an extraordinary seven times this century, had a disappointing 2023/24, and for only the second time in two decades are not playing any kind of European football this season. And the present campaign hasn't been a great one by their usual high standards either.

They have never quite managed to hit any kind of real form, and are currently languishing in mid-table. Their present run of four games without defeat is their best of the season so far, but only one of those games was a win, 2-1 at Girona. The other three were draws.

Head to head

And amazingly considering Sevilla have been one of the strongest side both in Spain and Europe for so many years, Barça have a staggeringly positive record against them. Indeed, the meeting earlier this season at the Estadi Olimpic (see video below), the day that Gavi made his much-awaited comeback, which ended in a 5-1 win for the blaugranes, was just the latest of a long series of strong results against the all-whites.

Home or away, Sevilla have failed to muster a single win from this fixture in their last 18 attempts. 14 of those games ended in Barça wins, including the last six. In fact, another win on Sunday would set an all-time record run of wins for Barça against the Andalusians.

Familiar face

Sevilla manager García Pimienta knows more than a thing or two about Barça. Born in the Catalan capital, he grew up at La Masia and played for the B team 68 times. He'd later return to the club to coach the reserves for several years before leaving to take the senior role at Las Palmas, and then switched to Sevilla at the start of the present campaign.

Not that his inside knowledge has helped him so far. In three meetings with his boyhood club so far, he has lost all three.

Hansi says

"All the team is doing well" said coach Hansi Flick on Saturday. "They are showing that and we are creating a lot of chances. Now we have a lot of players available and it's good to have fresh legs ... I am very happy. There's a good atmosphere in the dressing room and that's key. They are all battling and that's great." FULL STORY