PREVIEW | FC Barcelona v Sevilla

The worldwide break is over and La Liga is again this weekend, with FC Barcelona seeking to consolidate their place on the high of the Liga desk as they tackle Sevilla on the Estadi Olimpic in a 9pm CEST kick-off. As at all times, we have now ready a worldwide information to instances and broadcasters that can assist you work out easy methods to watch the sport wherever you’re on the earth.

Barça had been on an absolute roll, beginning the season with seven straight wins, earlier than struggling 4-2 defeat at Osasuna. Nevertheless the 2 outcomes since then recommend that Pamplona was only a nasty blip, for the staff responded by placing 5 targets previous Younger Boys within the Champions League and making the job look straightforward as they cruised to a 3-0 win at Alavés.

And the very best information of all is that plenty of gamers which have been out with accidents are again within the squad and should effectively get to characteristic.

García Pimienta again at Barça

Subsequent up it is Sevilla, who within the final 12 months or so have been however a shadow of their normal selves, and for the primary time in 20 years usually are not enjoying any form of European soccer this season. The person charged with getting the membership again on monitor is a well-known face to Barça followers. Earlier than guiding Las Palmas again into the highest flight, García Pimienta spent a number of years teaching on the Ciutat Esportiva, successful the UEFA Youth League after which managing Barça Atlètic.

His first few video games did not finish too effectively, however he appears to be slowly getting issues into form, and can have taken specific pleasure from successful the derby with Betis of their most up-to-date check. However a lot because the outcomes have been enhancing, Sevilla have but to win any video games on the highway. And far as we might usually want the very best for a person who served the blaugrana colors so effectively over time, hopefully issues are going to remain that approach for at the least one other week!

However Sevilla is rarely a straightforward check, no matter latest outcomes between these groups may recommend. Certainly, and fairly terribly, Barça have solely misplaced as soon as to the Andalusians as soon as since 2007 (the only defeat was 9 years in the past), and it’s over 20 years since they final misplaced this fixture at house. The Catalans are at present on a run of 5 straight wins. Time to make it six!

How issues stand

Barça went into the weekend high of the league, three factors away from Actual Madrid, however the sides are actually tied on factors after the all-whites received 2-1 at Celta on Saturday. However Barça nonetheless have the sting on purpose distinction, and naturally, nonetheless have their recreation with Sevilla to play.

And naturally, the following league recreation for Barça is the biggie. It is none aside from the journey to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday. And earlier than that there is a enormous Champions League date with Bayern Munich, a membership towards which the Catalans have a number of scores to settle. These are two huge distractions, however coach Hansi Flick insisted in his pre-game press convention that in the interim there is just one factor on everybody’s thoughts, and that is Sevilla.

Workforce information

Accidents have been horribly unkind to Barça this season, however this week brings some extra constructive information following the return to motion of Frenkie de Jong. As a result of after virtually a 12 months sidelined by a knee harm, Gavi has lastly been declared totally match and included within the squad. However that is not all the excellent news, for Fermín Lopez is over his personal troubles, and so is Dani Olmo, who acquired off to such an explosive begin at his new membership earlier than his wonderful progress was minimize brief by harm.

All three of these gamers have been included within the squad, though it stays to be seen whether or not Hansi Flick opts to offer any and even all of them any time on pitch.

And the constructive information retains coming! Each Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski returned from obligation for Spain and Poland carrying knocks, but it surely seems that neither drawback as as critical as initially feared, and each are totally out there for Sunday as is new goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny who has additionally been named within the squad

In addition to the German stopper, Ferran Torres, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo are the opposite Barça gamers nonetheless out with health points.

As for the guests, we all know that Saúl Ñíguez shouldn’t be match and Tanguy Nianzou is suspended after being despatched off towards Betis.