FC Sevilla will host FC Barcelona in Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán on the seventh matchday of the season. Even without Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, who are both out injured, expect a cracker of a match.
Bad season start for FC Sevilla
Out of their first eight competitive matches of the new season (without UEFA Supercup), FC Sevilla has won only two of them, drawn twice and lost five times. Another loss came midweek week against last season UEFA Champions League finalist Juventus. On the second matchday of Champions League group stage, the Spaniards lost with 2-0 after Alvaro Morata and Simone Zaza scored the goals for the Italian club.
Last weekend, Sevilla faced Vallecano in Pizjuán and won 3-2 after four leauge matches without a win. It was the first win in new Primera División of last season fifth-place finisher.
This match against FC Barcelona will be a tough ask once again. Even without two of their most influential playmakers, Barcelona seem to be unbeatable. But it is exactly this challenge for Unai Emery's team to spring a suprise and maybe restart the new season.
FC Barcelona want to take over at the top of the league
Despite of one 4-1 loss against Celta Vigo, Barcelona are in great form, as one would expect. After six matches the title holder of Primera División is on second position behind suprising Villarreal.
FC Barcelona faced Bayer 04 Leverkusen in UEFA Champions League and got shocked by their offensive play and thanks to Sergi Roberto and Luis Suarez, who scored twice in two minutes, ten minutes before the finall whistle. The match showed what a big loss Messi's injury for Barcelona is. In the first half they had only five shots on goal and were 0-1 down after Papadopoulos took the lead for the Germans in the 22nd minute. Second half, however, was much better and Barcelona got away with a black eye and three more points on their Champions League account.
Upcoming match will show once again, if Barcelona are still "mighty" and "unbeatable" without Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta. Maybe Luis Enrique will change Sandro Ramirez, who replaced Lionel Messi in the Champions League match, and Munir will get his chance to play from the beginning.
Previous meetings
Previous meeting between these two happened not too long ago. At the start of the season, both faced off in UEFA Supercup and Barcelona won the title in extra time and only five minutes before final whistle. It was a cracker, Barca lead 3-1 at half time and after 90 minutes the scoreboard showed 4-4. Special was definitely the start of the match, after 16 minutes, Barcelona scored the 2-1 with the third freekick in the match. Banega scored the early lead after three minutes with a stunning freekick and Lionel Messi drawn only four minutes later also with a freekick.
Expectation
Despite of injuries of Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, Barcelona will definitely be the favourite in this meeting and Sevilla will have a rough ride once again. Sevilla has one advantage: they saw in the week how it is possible to beat Barcelona respectively almost beat them. If the whole team will make a lot of pressure in opening stage and their offensive player find their luck with scoring a goal, then the suprise is within reach.