La Liga Preview: Barcelona - Sevilla

In a strange way, los Rojiblancos got the better of Barca on Wednesday, even in defeat. Now travelling to Catalonia, an even sterner challenge awaits...

Jan 15, 2010 1:00:00 PM

More On :  FC Barcelona, Sevilla, FC Barcelona vs Sevilla
Lionel Messi skips past Romaric, but it's not enough as Barcelona crash out of the Copa to Sevilla (Getty Images)
Kick Off: Saturday, January 16, 2010. 22:00 CET
Camp Nou, Barcelona

Defeated

It’s the first time in Pep Guardiola’s career as a coach that he has had the opportunity to taste real defeat. Of course there have been losses before, but the 2-1 aggregate reverse in the Copa del Rey against weekend visitors Sevilla is the first time that the young trainer has failed to win a major trophy.
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Barca have never previously had to bounce back from such a set-back during the course of the last 18 months, but judging by their performance at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, the Blaugrana should have few problems doing so.

Only a superb goalkeeping performance by Andres Palop kept the Blaugrana at bay as they clicked through the gears during a breathtaking second half. Lionel Messi, who scored a hat-trick last weekend in a rout of Tenerife, was towards his mesmerising best when on the ball, while the midfield clicked along nicely.

Revenge will very much be on the minds of the Barca XI who run out onto the Camp Nou pitch on Saturday evening. More importantly, this could be a vital game for the long-term future of the team. Victory will quickly heal any mental scars that the Blaugrana are bound to have, whereas a loss will only serve to further damage battered egos.

Heroes In Defeat

Though Sevilla were defeated 1-0 on Wednesday evening by Barcelona, their players celebrated freely at the end of the fixture, having successfully become the first team to cause a major title to escape Pep Guardiola’s grasp.

Los Rojiblancos had to withstand a second half barrage and by full time tensions were running high, with a brief flare-up between Koffi Romaric and his own team-mates as he took his time when being substituted in injury time.

It was a lionhearted performance by Manolo Jimenez’s side, with the coach kicking every ball on the sidelines. And no wonder, for a heavier defeat may have seen the end of the popular 45-year-old, who turned out for the club over 350 times in the league as a player.

While Copa del Rey success is enjoyable, it does not hold the same prestige as progress up the league table. Los Nervionenses expected to be on the fringes of the title race this term but a slump in form has seen them relegated to fifth, a massive 13 points short of Barca.

Jimenez admitted that even an unlikely title challenge is not a possibility prior to last weekend’s home reverse against Racing Santander, and that loss has made a path to the Champions League significantly harder.

With fourth place the very least demanded of the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan club, the pressure is starting to mount on their coach to pick up some quick league points. Against Barcelona, the “best team of all time”, according to Rojiblancos president Jose Maria del Nido, nothing will come easy.

FORM GUIDE

Barcelona

WON 1-0 (a) Sevilla (Copa del Rey, January 13)

WON 5-0 (a) Tenerife (Liga, January 10)

LOST 2-1 (h) Sevilla (Copa del Rey, January 5)
 
DREW 1-1 (h) Villarreal (Liga, January 2)

WON 2-1 aet (n) Estudiantes (Club World Cup, December 19)

Sevilla

LOST 1-0 (h) Barcelona (Copa del Rey, January 13)

LOST 2-1 (h) Racing Santander (Liga, January 9)

WON 2-1 (a) Barcelona (Copa del Rey, January 5)

LOST 2-1 (a) Atletico Madrid (Liga, January 2)

LOST 2-1 (h) Getafe (Liga, December 19)

TEAM NEWS

Barcelona

Jeffren Suarez is the only injury problem that Barca currently have. Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita are both away on international duty.

Dani Alves missed training on Thursday because of “personal matters” but should be available to feature from the outset.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was banned from last weekend’s Liga encounter against Tenerife and will likely lead the offensive line.

Victor Valdes will regain his place in goal after sitting out in midweek.

Probable Starting XI: Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Ibrahimovic, Pedro

Sevilla

Luis Fabiano is nearing full fitness, touching the ball in Thursday’s training session, but he is not expected to feature this weekend. Sebastien Squillaci faces several weeks on the sidelines after ankle surgery. Also likely to be missing is Diego Perotti.

Absent are a selection of Sevilla’s legion of African players, including Didier Zokora, Arouna Kone and Frederic Kanoute, who are on international duty.

There squad isn’t especially deep, so don’t expect many changes.

Probable Starting XI: Palop; Stankevicius, Escude, Dragutinovic, Navarro; Romaric, Duscher; Jesus Navas, Renato, Diego Capel; Negredo

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Barcelona

Lionel Messi is reaching the peak of his game. The diminutive Argentine struck a superb hat-trick against Tenerife last weekend, with his chipped third goal brilliant enough to make any highlight reel. He was lively against Sevilla in the second half on Wednesday, cracking the post after teasing the home rearguard.

Sevilla

If Sevilla are to win this game then they will have to be exceptionally sharp on the counterattack. Jesus Navas posed problems for the Blaugrana in midweek with his pace and trickery. The highly-rated Spaniard has shown his match-winning abilities previously and will wish to do so again.

PREDICTION

It took a tremendous goalkeeping performance from Andres Palop to prevent Barcelona moving through to the latter stages of the Copa and he will need to have a similarly brilliant night on Saturday if the Blaugrana are to be defeated at Camp Nou again. Barca are hurt, and expect them to respond.

Barcelona 2-0 Sevilla

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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