Sevilla-FC Barcelona: A key victory to set LaLiga ablaze

This Sunday, FC Barcelona will face a match that will be crucial for their aspirations in LaLiga 2024/25. The blue and garnet team will visit the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán to take on Sevilla in what will be a true final for the team led by Hansi Flick, who are presented with an excellent opportunity to dangerously approach the top of the table after the draw between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid.

The Madrid derby ended in a 1-1 draw in a match full of tension and controversy played at the Santiago Bernabéu. A goal from Julián Álvarez from the penalty spot, the first penalty awarded against the whites in LaLiga in almost a year, and another from Kylian Mbappé leveled the score, leaving the Catalans with a golden opportunity to ignite the fight for the top spot.

Barça will look to maintain their streak against Sevilla

To get closer to the title, Barça will face a Sevilla that, despite being one of the most powerful teams in the competition, has been overwhelmingly surpassed by the blue and garnet team in recent years. The Sevillians have gone almost a decade without earning three points against the Catalans, who dominate the head-to-head record decisively with 14 victories and 4 draws in the 18 matches played between them in this period.

At the Nervión ground, the Catalans have achieved five wins and three draws in their last eight visits. In fact, the blaugrana team has left the Andalusian field with three points in the last two seasons, with an overwhelming balance of 5 goals scored and only 1 conceded in one of the most challenging venues in the league.

To find the last victory of the palanganas against the Catalans, we must go back to October 3, 2015, in matchday 7 of LaLiga 2015/16. At that time, goals from Krohn-Dehli and Iborra were enough for Unai Emery's team to defeat Luis Enrique's side (2-1). Neymar Jr. scored for the Catalans towards the end. Since then, the Sevillians have only earned one point in the 17/18 (2-2), 19/20 (0-0), and 21/22 (1-1) seasons.

This season, for their part, García Pimienta's team suffered one of the 9 'five-goal' defeats from Barça this season (5-1). The first-round match played at Montjuïc was resolved early in favor of the Catalans with goals from Lewandowski (22', p., 39') and Pedri González in the 28'. Pablo Torre completed the rout with a brace in the second half, while Muzambo scored a consolation goal for the visitors at the end.

The 'sweet' dilemma of Hansi Flick

In his visit to Nervión, Hansi Flick will once again have Gavi in his ranks. The midfielder has fully recovered from the hard blow to the head suffered against Alavés and will be included in the squad, aiming for a starting position in midfield. However, Dani Olmo, who already enjoyed minutes in the victory against Valencia in the Cup, will also fight for a spot in the midfield alongside Pedri and Casadó, so the coach has a nice 'puzzle' on his hands.

Apart from this dilemma, and after making numerous rotations in the match against Valencia in the Cup, it is expected that the German will put 'all the meat on the grill' in Sevilla. Ronald Araujo would return to the center of defense alongside Pau Cubarsí, while Marc Casadó would do the same in midfield to accompany Pedri. Finally, Robert Lewandowski will return to the center of the attack alongside Raphinha and Lamine Yamal after resting in Mestalla.

The fight for LaLiga is 'on fire'

The 'slip' of Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid not only changes the landscape of the table but also increases the expectation in the title race. With four months of competition ahead and key matches on the calendar, LaLiga is more alive than ever.

The big winner of the draw between the merengues and colchoneros is none other than Barça. With this result, Madrid remains at the top with 50 points, but sees how the competition tightens. Atlético, for their part, remains just one point behind, while the Catalans could close in to just ¡two units! if they defeat Sevilla in a venue that has been favorable for the team in recent years.

The team of Hansi Flick will face a rival in a slump but who remains a 'threat'. Right now, the Andalusians occupy the thirteenth place in the Primera classification with 28 points and in the last 10 league matches have accumulated 4 draws, 3 victories, and 3 defeats. Moreover, they have not managed to defeat the Catalans for almost a decade, so the stage is set for the Catalans to continue their celebration and ignite the title race in 'flames'.

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