Played
September 30, 2012 6:00 AM EST
Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán — Sevilla
Referee:‬ Antonio Mateu‎
Attendance:‬ 40000‎
 

Sevilla – Barcelona Preview: High-flying Blaugrana target sixth straight Liga win

Tito Vilanova’s side will look to maintain their eight-point lead over arch-rivals Real Madrid heading into next weekend’s Clasico showdown at Camp Nou

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  FC Barcelona, Sevilla, Sevilla vs FC Barcelona
Alex Song - FC Barcelona
Getty Images
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

SEVILLA

Palop
Cicinho, Botia, Spahic, Navarro
Medel, Maduro
Navas, Rakitic, Trochowski
Negredo
BARCELONA

Valdes
Alves, Song, Mascherano, Alba
Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta
Pedro, Messi, Sanchez

Sevilla are set to welcome back Diego Perotti and Jose Antonio Reyes for Saturday’s Primera Division clash with Barcelona at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

The duo returned from calf and shoulder injuries respectively to play in a charity match on Tuesday, and will likely be named on the bench.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is expected to travel to Andalusia after recovering from a hamstring problem, but defenders Gerard Pique (ankle) and Carles Puyol (knee) are still out.

Alex Song and Javier Mascherano are expected to continue their partnership in central defence despite the availability of young defenders Marc Bartra and Andreu Fontas.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Sevilla are unbeaten in La Liga with three wins and two draws in their five matches so far.
  • The Andalusian side have won their last three home games with an aggregate score of 8-3.
  • With just two goals conceded thus far, Sevilla boast the joint-best defensive record in the league along with Malaga.
  • Barcelona are the only side to maintain a 100 per cent record in the Primera Division.
  • If they win on Saturday, the Catalans will equal their best ever start to a Liga campaign.
  • Goals from Xavi (pictured right) and Lionel Messi handed a 2-0 win to Barca in this corresponding fixture last season.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Sevilla 1-3 FC Barcelona
    19.88 %
  • Sevilla 0-3 FC Barcelona
    11.63 %
  • Sevilla 1-2 FC Barcelona
    9.57 %
Head to Head
Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ 24/02/2013 FC Barcelona 2 - Sevilla 1
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ 30/09/2012 Sevilla 2 - FC Barcelona 3
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ 18/03/2012 Sevilla 0 - FC Barcelona 2
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ 23/10/2011 FC Barcelona 0 - Sevilla 0
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Spain - Primera Division ‎(LIGA)‎ 14/03/2011 Sevilla 1 - FC Barcelona 1
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Last Five Matches
Sevilla
19/05/2013Sevilla 1 - Real Sociedad 2LIGA
13/05/2013Malaga 0 - Sevilla 0LIGA
06/05/2013Sevilla 3 - Espanyol 0LIGA
29/04/2013Valladolid 1 - Sevilla 1LIGA
22/04/2013Sevilla 0 - Atletico Madrid 1LIGA
FC Barcelona
20/05/2013FC Barcelona 2 - Valladolid 1LIGA
13/05/2013Atletico Madrid 1 - FC Barcelona 2LIGA
06/05/2013FC Barcelona 4 - Betis 2LIGA
02/05/2013FC Barcelona 0 - FC Bayern München 3UCL
28/04/2013Athletic de Bilbao 2 - FC Barcelona 2LIGA
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
1Andrés PalopGoalkeeper
3Fernando NavarroDefender
5Emir SpahicDefender
6Hedwiges MaduroDefender
2CicinhoDefender
-BotíaDefender
7Jesús Navas GonzálezMidfielder
8Gary MedelMidfielder
11Ivan RakiticMidfielder
15Piotr TrochowskiMidfielder
9NegredoStriker
13Diego López RodríguezGoalkeeper
2Federico Julián FazioDefender
27LunaDefender
16CampañaMidfielder
-Geoffrey KondogbiaMidfielder
20Manu Del MoralStriker
-Baba DiawaraStriker
1Víctor ValdésGoalkeeper
2Daniel AlvesDefender
18Jordi AlbaDefender
4Cesc FàbregasMidfielder
6XaviMidfielder
14Javier MascheranoMidfielder
16BusquetsMidfielder
25Alex SongMidfielder
9Alexis SánchezStriker
10Lionel MessiStriker
17PedroStriker
13José Pinto ColoradoGoalkeeper
32BartraDefender
35MontoyaDefender
11Thiago AlcántaraMidfielder
30Sergi RobertoMidfielder
7David VillaStriker
37TelloStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		46 4
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		34 6
Radamel Falcao Radamel Falcao
Striker
Atl. Madrid 		28 8
Roberto Soldado Roberto Soldado
Striker
Valencia 		21 5
Negredo Negredo
Striker
Sevilla 		20 3