La Liga: Can Slumping Sevilla Stop Burgeoning Barcelona?

Sevilla FC vs Barcelona

Sevilla and Barcelona are set to collide in a blockbuster La Liga battle this weekend at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

Sevilla are off to an awful start to the season and are still searching for their first win after two defeats and a draw in their first three games.

And their La Liga 2022 betting odds of beating Barcelona are not good, especially with the Catalans – led by marquee summer signing Robert Lewandowski – looking quite impressive in recent weeks.

Talking Points

Sevilla off to a slow start

Things are not going so well for Sevilla at the moment. The Rojiblancos have only a single point after some disappointing La Liga 2022 results to start the season. They suffered 2-1 defeats away to Osasuna and Almeria and needed a late equaliser at home to escape with a 1-1 draw against Real Valladolid.

Coach Julen Lopetegui is struggling to find the right combination in the early going. He has switched up his starting formation in each of the first three games, and none have looked particularly effective.

He went with a 4-2-2-2 formation last time out in their loss to Almeria, with Erik Lamela partnering Rafa Mir up front. Mir, who led the team with 10 goals last season, already has 11 shots this season but only two have been on target.

Sevilla no longer have wingers Jesus Corona, who suffered a serious ankle injury, as well as Lucas Ocampos, who has been loaned out to Ajax. But Lopetegui still has decent attacking options in Youssef En-Nesyri and former Real Madrid man Isco, who can shake up the attack.

Meanwhile, the Sevilla defence is not as secure as it has been in the past. After selling off their central defensive partnership of Diego Carlos and Jules Kounde, Sevilla are giving up too many good chances to their opposition in the early going.

Barca new boys in the spotlight

Barcelona went on an outrageous spending spree this summer as they brought in several new players. And they are seeing that spending bear fruit in the first few weeks of the season.

After a disappointing draw at home to Rayo Vallecano in their La Liga season opener, Barca have reeled off back-to-back big wins against Real Sociedad (1-4) and Real Valladolid (4-0) as they have risen to third in the standings.

Robert Lewandowski, their biggest acquisition of the summer, has hit the ground running with four goals in those two games, which has him tied for the league lead.

Xavi will also be pleased by the early season form of wingers Ousmane Dembele, Ansu Fati and Raphinha, as well as young midfield maestro Pedri. Dembele and Fati already have two goals and four assists between them this season.

Jules Kounde, who was the last of the Barca new boys to be registered, finally made his debut in the win against Real Valladolid and should get the start against his former team.

Meanwhile, captain Sergio Busquets made his return from suspension last week and looks set to anchor the midfield alongside teenagers Pedri and Gavi.

History

Sevilla have been among the best teams in La Liga over the last few years, but they have still been unable to compete with the Catalans. Barca have an astounding 20-1 edge in wins over their last 29 meetings, with eight draws. Moreover, the Catalans are currently on a 13-game unbeaten run against Sevilla, with 9 wins and 4 draws.

Sevilla held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at the Sanchez Pizjuan last season despite going down to 10 men for the last half hour after Kounde’s red card. And Barca won the reverse fixture at the Camp Nou 1-0 thanks to a Pedri strike.

Betting Tip

SBOTOP odds have Barcelona installed as 1.85 favourites to get their third win in a row. Sevilla are priced at 4.00, while a draw is 3.60.

Based on recent form of the two clubs coupled with the overwhelming dominance of Barcelona in their La Liga encounters, it’s hard not to go with the Catalans in this match.

Barca are now back to full strength after their injury issues and registration concerns, and it will be very difficult for an out-of-sorts Sevilla side to stop Lewandowski and co. Look for Kounde to celebrate a Barca win on his Sevilla homecoming.

 

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