Sevilla Look To Make Win Possible Against Barcelona

Sevilla are looking to bounce back from their loss at San Mamés but their task will not be an easy as they face a Barcelona side fresh off of their win against Arsenal in the Champions League.

This is not the first time these two teams face off this season… actually it is their seventh since January of last year.  During this time Barcelona have won five times although their last match played at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan was a 3-1 win for the Nervionenses in the Spanish Supercup.

“Nothing is impossible” has been the rallying cry in Andalusia as they prepared for this match that would be a Waterloo of sorts for Sevilla’s European hopes.  Even club sporting director Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo looked at his current situation and saw that the team has performed in such a way that they should have a shot against Barcelona in a venue that historically has not been the friendliest to the Blaugrana. 

One of the two players that scored for Sevilla in that win will not be on the pitch as Brazilian international Luis Fabiano will be playing with São Paulo in the coming weeks.   Sevilla’s fifth all-time leading scorer was starting to “wear out his welcome” as his relationship with Gregorio Manzano began to deteriorate quickly.  Their newer players are slowly beginning to contribute and that was part of the reason why it was easier to unload the Brazilian international. 

He was also interested in going back and fighting got a spot in the Brazilan national team where Mano Menezes would be more available to consult and communicate with as he looks to be in Copa América this coming July. 

His final of the season in Seville were not the most productive despite being the team’s leading scorer after 28 rounds.  He started out hot but injuries took a toll on his body after the World Cup.

Barcelona in the meantime have not lost a match since the first leg of the Arsenal game in London.   Since that match they have outscored 10-3 and are healthy as they prepare for the final stretch of the season.

For Barcelona it will be their final push after having six days off before they play Getafe the following Saturday at home.  All indications are that Pep Guardiola will field their top side sans Carles Puyol who is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered back in mid-February. 

PROBABLES

Sevilla:  Javi Varas,  Escudé, Navarro, Fazio, Cáceres;  Medel, Rakitic, Navas, Perotti, Negredo, Kanouté 

Barcelona:  Valdés, Dani Alves, Piqué, Abidal, Maxwell; Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta;  Messi, Pedro, Villa