Barcelona vs Sevilla

Spotify Camp Nou forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking La Liga contest between pacesetters Barcelona and surprise relegation contenders Sevilla.

After stringing together three identical 1-0 league wins at the start of the new calendar year, Barcelona made history at Real Betis in midweek La Liga action, as a 2-1 triumph saw them win four consecutive top-flight games via a single-goal margin for the first time in the club’s history. Unbeaten in 95% of their La Liga fixtures in 2022/23 (W16, D2, L1), Xavi Hernandez’s men boast a five-point lead on second-placed Real Madrid and are increasingly heading toward their first league title since 2018/19. Yet to lose at home in La Liga this season (W7, D2), the ‘Blaugrana’ have averaged 2.37 goals per home league game since a scoreless draw against Rayo Vallecano on the opening matchday. Sevilla’s visit will likely help extend that run, with Barcelona going unbeaten in their last 19 top-flight H2Hs at home (W16, D3).

As for Sevilla, a 3-0 home win over dead-last Elche last time out saw them win back-to-back league games for the first time this season, but they’re still only two points clear of the drop zone. Playing on the road will unlikely inspire much confidence, with Sevilla picking up only two wins on their nine league travels (D3, L4) and going winless on the last four in a row (D2, L2). Arresting that run looks like a Herculean task, given that ‘Los Rojiblancos’ have failed to beat Barcelona in their last 14 league H2Hs (D4, L10), including a thumping 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in September.