With ominous squad depth, Barcelona are likely to be more relaxed than Sevilla despite their own upcoming UEFA Champions League participation.
Sevilla
Sevilla’s 2-1 loss at Almeria finds them winless after three La Liga games for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, when they finished seventh. Recent years have been kinder, but after three successive top-four LaLiga finishes for the first time since 2010, an underwhelming summer transfer window – that included losing Jules Koundé to opponents Barcelona – has cast doubts on their aspirations as the hosts continue scrambling for answers off the field. With UEFA Champions League participation pending, the schedule and demands only get more gruelling for Sevilla. So it will be interesting to see if manager Julen Lopetegui, who’s never tasted a LaLiga victory against Barca, can lift morale. However, a near-unbeaten home record across the last 22 LaLiga games may be a good start for inspiration.
FC Barcelona
Barcelona haven’t lost to Sevilla in the league since October 2015, however, and the visitors will arrive full of confidence, having delivered consecutive four-goal LaLiga hauls led by the newly-signed Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker became the first Barcelona player to score four goals in his first three LaLiga games this century, repaying manager Xavi’s trust and erasing the tension of delayed player registrations. With ominous squad depth, Barcelona are likely to be more relaxed than Sevilla despite their own upcoming UEFA Champions League participation. With a chance to post consecutive away wins to start a LaLiga campaign for the first time since their last title win in 2018/19, the Catalans won’t be looking to do Sevilla any favours, particularly as arch-rivals Real Madrid have started their campaign with three successive wins.
On-loan defender Alex Telles turned provider for Sevilla’s latest goal, but his task here could be to stop the tricky Ousmane Dembele. The Barcelona winger boasts a personal-best seven contributions in 11 matches against Sevilla in all competitions. Barcelona scored the last match goal in six of the last seven LaLiga H2Hs.