This evening at the Sánchez Pizjuán stadium in Seville, one of the key matches of La Liga’s eighth round will take place. The team led by Matías Almeyda will host visitors from Barcelona, who continue their push for the top spots in the league table.
The Catalan club comes into the match with significant personnel losses. Coach Hans-Dieter Flick is forced to reorganize the attacking line due to the absence of Lamine Yamal, who is sidelined once again. Raphinha and Fermín are also left out of the squad, adding to the visitors’ challenges. For the first time this season, Pedri’s participation is in doubt, sparking discussions among fans and experts about the team’s reliance on individual players.
Barcelona recently suffered a painful defeat to PSG in the Champions League and now needs to recover in the domestic competition. A win in Seville would allow them to maintain their advantage over Real Madrid and stay in the title race.
Sevilla, meanwhile, has yet to please its fans with results at home. This season, the team has not won a single match at Sánchez Pizjuán—two losses and one draw. Nevertheless, encounters between these rivals are traditionally intense and often deliver thrilling football with plenty of goals.
Matías Almeyda opted for a defensive setup with four defenders and three defensive midfielders to contain the visitors’ attacking potential. The home team’s starting lineup includes Odysseas, Carmona, Azpilicueta, Marcão, Suazo, Agoumé, Sow, Mendy, Vargas, Alexis, and Isaak Romero. Barcelona takes the field with Szczęsny, Koundé, Araújo, Cubarsí, Gerard Martín, Frenkie de Jong, Olmo, Rashford, Ferran Torres, and Lewandowski.
Before the match, the Sevilla coach noted that playing at home is tougher than away, but expressed confidence in his team’s abilities. Kike Salas and Januzaj have recovered in time for the game, expanding the coaching staff’s options.
For the first time this season, Barcelona will play in their orange kit in La Liga, a set previously used in the match against Newcastle. The home lineup is expected to feature Alexis from the first minutes, adding intrigue as he faces his former club once again.
Physical fatigue after the European cup match may influence the visitors’ lineup choices. Sevilla hopes to capitalize on this factor to achieve their first home win of the season.
