On the back of a good Champions League win against Arsenal in midweek, Sevilla could be ideal opponents at Camp Nou this weekend. We'd expect - and also know that - Luis Enrique and the team will be motivated and hungry to go for yet another win. Even so, Sevilla being one of La Liga's better teams gives that extra bit to keeping the players on their toes.
Sevilla's away form - or lack of it
Sevilla currently find themselves 6th in the table, level on points with 5th-placed Celta Vigo. On the surface, it appears that they have had a good season thus far. They've had 5 wins out of 7 matches in La Liga since a 2-1 away loss to Granada in 1st round of matches in 2016. These 5 wins include a 2-0 victory over Athletic. Unai Emery's side have also impressively beaten Celta 4-0 in the Copa del Rey.
However, looking more closely at their away form, they have been well below what would be expected of a team with their quality. Considering only home games, Sevilla would be 3rd, behind only Barça and Real Madrid. Their away form pales in comparison - they would be in 16th, winless in 12 matches and with only 8 points. Before the season, Sevilla would've been expected to be challenging for one of the 4 Champions League spots. Their Jekyll & Hyde form has seemingly ended hopes of that, with 4th-placed Villarreal holding an 8-point lead over Sevilla and Celta.
At the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, the Andalusian outfit have scored 28 of their 36 total goals. With a paltry 8 goals, it is of little wonder that they have flopped away from home. The fluency and attacking verve one would from a side containing the likes of Éver Banega and Yevhen Konoplyanka eludes them when on their travels in La Liga.
Another factor that does not help their case this weekend is their disciplinary record. At home, 29 yellows and 1 red. Away from home, their record reads as 34 yellows and 4 reds. As a side that plays with lots of spirit and aggression, a high yellow card count should not be a surprise. That said, the stark contrast between their disciplinary record at home and away is something to note heading into Camp Nou.
Sevilla's attacking threat
In spite of their woeful away form, Sevilla have some players who could potentially hurt Barça. The wing play of Yevhen Konoplyanka, Vitolo, and Michael Krohn-Dehli is a big part of their attacking arsenal. Emery also has the option of the experience and guile of Jose Antonio Reyes. Éver Banega has replaced Ivan Rakitić as the brains of their set-up, hence the Argentine's suspension for today's game will be the biggest of blows for Unai Emery. Sevilla have other players who could contribute positively in Banega's absence but no one on their squad could truly hope to replace him.
Kévin Gameiro has been an impressive performer this season, notching 13 goals and 3 assists in 23 appearances in La Liga. We all know the aerial threat Fernando Llorente poses. Regardless of whether the Basque targetman starts, Sevilla are a large side, with the likes of Adil Rami, Timothée Kolodziejczak, Steven N'Zonzi, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Vicente Iborra. Set pieces would probably be Sevilla's main threat to Barça, who have improved markedly at defending set pieces since the arrival of Luis Enrique and Juan Carlos Unzué.
Barça rotation
After the midweek exertions against Arsenal, some changes would be expected. Sergi Roberto coming in for Rakitić would be one of them. Roberto has been impressive this season and should deliver another good performance today - adding another string to his bow of staking a claim for heavy involvement in the business end of the season. Aleix Vidal would be highly motivated - more than he usually is, anyway - against the club he left for Barça last summer. Jérémy Mathieu has not been great this season but has enough quality to put in a decent shift if he starts against Sevilla.
Barça should have more than enough to win comfortably today, though the Andalusian side have proven to be one of the toughest opponents any side could face in La Liga. Sevilla's woeful away form should see them not break their duck of still being without a league win away from the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán going into the month of March.
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