La Liga: Sevilla Heading for a Sunday Roast in Barcelona

Barcelona vs Sevilla

La Liga action is back at the Estadi Olimpic on Sunday night when league leaders Barcelona host improving Sevilla, both keen to keep their winning form going.

Hansi Flick’s Barcelona come into the game on the back of a 3-0 win away to Deportivo Alaves, while Sevilla won a tight game by the only goal at home to Real Betis.

Sevilla’s new head coach Garcia Pimienta is certainly making progress after a sticky start, but this match is his biggest test yet as Barca aim to make it three wins on the run in all competitions and a ninth win in 10 in the league.

Real Madrid started the season as clear favourites to win the title, and Los Blancos are still are at the front of the queue. But the gap is narrowing with Carlo Ancelotti’s side priced at 1.65, and the Blaugrana now in to 2.40.

My SBOTOP pal James reckons Real Madrid remain the better long-term bet, and he may well be right, but I’m sure he’ll agree we have a fascinating race ahead.

This home game against Sevilla is a must win for the Blaugrana, otherwise the La Liga 2024 betting odds are sure to drift back towards Madrid.

Talking Points

Yamal and Olmo in a race to be fit

Barcelona have been troubled by off-field problems and an increasing number of injury worries this season, but Flick has kept things moving and the Barca boss is hoping to have a couple of key players fit for their Sunday date with Sevilla.

17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who has already scored four goals and made five assists in this league campaign, picked up a hamstring strain while on international duty with Spain and he is a doubt, but certainly in the frame.

The Blaugrana have been missing another La Roja Euro 2024 hero since Dani Olmo picked up his own hamstring injury during Barca’s 4-1 win over Girona in September, and he too is in line for a return in time from Sunday.

If either or both are available to play some part, that will be a huge boost, while the likes of Gavi and Ferran Torres remain sidelined. Meanwhile, Fermin Lopez should be fit after shaking off a thigh niggle he picked up in training.

Players are slowly coming back for Flick, but providing he has his prolific striker Robert Lewandowski fit and firing, the Barcelona boss will back his team. The Poland legend has scored ten goals already in the league, matching the tally racked up by Erling Haaland in the Premier League.

Pimienta searches for stability

Inconsistency has dogged Sevilla in recent seasons, and a 14^th-place finish last year was something of a relief after a long season of struggle.

They currently sit 12^th in the Primera Division table and, under new boss Pimienta, Los Nervionenses’ La Liga 2024 results are certainly on the up.

García Pimienta expresses confidence in Sevilla’s ability to compete at the highest level

After picking up two points from the first four games fans may have feared the worst, but a battling 1-0 win over Getafe, thanks to a first-half goal from Jesus Navas, sparked an uptick in form as confidence coursed through the club.

Sevilla lost their next game away to Alaves, but they dominated possession. Since then, results have come, with seven points from the next three games.

Striker Dodi Lukebakio scored the winner against Real Betis last time out to make it three goals for the season, and he will start again up front, while former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who signed a two-year deal in the summer, will hope to make a start.

But the key man in Sevilla’s lineup is captain Nemanja Gudelj. A centre-back or defencive midfielder, the 32-year-old Serbian star is a natural leader. If the going gets tough in Catalonia, he’ll drive his team on to dig deep in search of a first success away to Barca in 14 years.

History

With 46 wins to 13, Barcelona have had plenty of success in this fixture and have won the last five meetings, including a 2-1 victory in Seville on the final day of last season.

Both teams have been in good form, and there’s not much to choose between them over the past six games. Barcelona have won four and lost two, while Sevilla have won three, drawn one, and lost two.

The Blaugrana have won all three of their home games this season and have not lost to Sevilla on their last 19 visits to Catalonia.