Barcelona vs Sevilla LIVE: Xavi’s side look to go EIGHT points clear at the top of LaLiga following Real Madrid’s loss to Mallorca with struggling visitors seeking win to climb into 12th
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the La Liga clash between Barcelona and Sevilla.
Host commentator
Barcelona are unbeaten against Sevilla in La Liga since 2015/16, when they were defeated 2-1 in the south of Spain. They have gone 15 games in the league, home and away, without losing to tonight’s visitors.
Sevilla last won in La Liga at Barcelona in December 2002. It would be a high time to try and alter that record this evening.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Alba; Busquets, De Jong, Gavi, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski
Sevilla: Bono; Montiel, Bade, Rekik, Acuna; Gudelj, Gueye, Rakitic; Jordan, Oliver T, En-Nesyri
‘I remember the best period in Barça’s history when I was involved, and we didn’t always play excellently and had brilliant games. In football, there are times when you are better and times when you are not so good,’ he said.
‘We’re in a good moment, five points clear of Madrid, young people are taking the initiative, we’ve just won a title, but we need to keep it going.
‘Talking to the players, telling them that we haven’t achieved much, that we won the Super Cup, which was important, but that this is about winning the league, the Europa League, the cup, this is Barça.
‘We have managed to become a family within the dressing room, there is a very good atmosphere, one of the best in my career, we are working well and we are on the right track but we must not let our guard down.’
The reigning champions’ loss at Mallorca has handed Barcelona a golden opportunity to go well clear in the title race. Carlo Ancelotti’s side fell behind thanks to a Nacho own goal and struggled to create as they fell to their third defeat of the season, their second in their last five games.
Asensio’s penalty miss could prove decisive, with Carlo Ancelotti acknowledging after the game that his side struggled.
‘Yes, it was tough,’ he said. ‘It was the type of match we were expecting. It was a very tough match, it was difficult. We weren’t lucky enough to be able to manage it the way we wanted because they scored against us very early on and then it was very difficult. Lots of fouls, stoppages, players going down. But both teams played to the end.
‘We deserved an equaliser, we missed the penalty, we had chances in very tight spaces.We played the game the way we had to.’
Good evening and welcome to Sportsmail’s live coverage of Barcelona’s clash with Sevilla in La Liga.
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