Will the Blaugrana stay at the top of the table?
On the first matchday of the 2022/23 season, FC Barcelona suffered their first setback when they were held to a sobering 0-0 draw at home to Rayo Vallecano. But then came two wins in a row at 8:1 goals to keep the Blaugrana in third place in the table, ahead of Real Madrid and Betis Sevilla, who face each other in a head-to-head clash earlier in the day.
If the top-of-the-table clash even ends in a draw, the Catalans could theoretically take over the top spot in the table with an away win at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán. The betting companies consider at least a three-goal win in Andalusia to be very likely. In the run-up to the match between Sevilla and Barcelona, the odds are clearly in favour of the Blaugrana.
There are two factors in favour of the Catalans. On the one hand, Sevilla got off to an absolute bad start with only one of nine possible points from the first three games. And secondly, Barca have not lost to the Rojiblancos for 13 league games in a row (nine wins, four draws).
Accordingly, betting on an away win for Xavi’s highly-rated side in Sevilla vs. Barcelona is a good play.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
While Sevilla FC have only ever won the first and only national championship in Spain in 1946. Nevertheless, the Nervionenses have been established as a top club in Spain and throughout Europe for years. The Andalusian showpiece club has already won the UEFA Europa League six times in the current millennium – most recently in 2020.
Last season, Julen Lopetegui’s side finished fourth in the final table and qualified for the Champions League, where they face a highly-anticipated home clash with Manchester City next Tuesday.
Still winless despite easy opening schedule
At the moment, however, everyone involved must be rather anxious about the tasks ahead.
Finally, the Andalusians got off to an absolute false start after the departures of both regular centre-backs Jules Koundé and Diego Carlos.
Although they had already played two promoted teams, Osasuna, Real Valladolid and Almería, the Nervionenses only picked up one point out of a possible nine. The Rojiblancos are currently in a sobering 15th place in the table and have already conceded five goals, making them the sixth weakest defensive team in La Liga.
Without a win against Barcelona for 13 league games
While the offense also stung exactly once in all three games. However, it is unlikely that one goal against the powerful Blaugrana will be enough to break the deadlock in the fourth league game of the 2022/23 season.
Even considering that the Nervionenses have not won any of their last 13 league games against Barca, Lopetegui’s side are the clear underdogs.
Predicted Sevilla line-up:
Bono – Telles – Rekik – Nianzou – Navas – Fernando – Jordán – Torres – Gómez – Lamela – Mir
Last matches played by Sevilla:
La Liga
28/08/2022 – Almeria 2 – 1 Sevilla FC
20/08/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 1 Real Valladolid
13/08/2022 – Osasuna Pamplona 2 – 1 Sevilla FC
Friendly club matches
07/08/2022 – Sevilla FC 1 – 0 Cadiz
31/07/2022 – Leicester 1 – 0 Sevilla FC
Barcelona – Statistics & current form
FC Barcelona have had little to smile about in the 2021/22 season. With a 13-point gap to Real Madrid, the team finished as a rather flattering runners-up. In the Champions League, however, the Catalans also failed due to two 0:3 defeats against FC Bayern in the preliminary round, before the journey ended in the Europa League against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Then, however, the proudly traditional club famously made massive upgrades in the summer transfer market and took a big gamble by selling off future earnings.
Recent two wins in a row with four goals scored each
So far, the risk has paid off, with the exception of the bumpy start against Rayo Vallecano, when 21 shots failed to bring the hoped-for goal (final score: 0-0), things have gone well so far.
Also because king transfer Robert Lewandowski already contributed four goals, the Blaugrana won two times in a row with a total of 8:1 goals and stayed on top. An away win in Sevilla would at least secure a move up to second place, before they face a must-win game at home to Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Only conceded one goal in three league games
In addition to the offensive power, the defensive stability also speaks for the Catalans. Barca have conceded only one goal in three league games so far, which was also thanks to Sevilla newcomer Jules Koundé.
Sevilla’s next three-goal haul against Barcelona is therefore a good bet for the Blaugrana, who have significantly improved their quality in all relevant areas and appear well-equipped for their upcoming tasks after the addition of two notable players on Deadline Day, Hector Bellerin and Macos Alonso.
Predicted Barcelona line-up:
ter Stegen – Balde – García – Araújo – Koundé – Pedri – Busquets – Gavi – Dembélé – Raphinha – Lewandowski
Last matches played by Barcelona:
La Liga
29/08/2022 – FC Barcelona 4 – 0 Real Valladolid
Club friendlies
25/08/2022 – FC Barcelona 3 – 3 Manchester City
La Liga
22/08/2022 – Real Sociedad 1 – 4 FC Barcelona
14/08/2022 – FC Barcelona 0 – 0 Rayo Vallecano
Club friendlies
08/08/2022 – FC Barcelona 6 – 0 Club Universidad Nacional
Sevilla – Barcelona Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Head to head: 45 – 39 – 111
There have been a total of 195 meetings between the two teams so far and with 111 victories Barcelona clearly lead the direct comparison. In La Liga alone, the Blaugrana have most recently gone unbeaten in 13 consecutive games with the Nervionenses (nine wins, four draws).
Sevilla – Barcelona Tip
When it comes to Sevilla against Barcelona, the prediction goes formally in the direction of the visitors from Catalonia. Not only did the Andalusian hosts get off to a false start after painful departures, but Barca have also been on a roll lately, winning twice with a total of 8-1 goals after a 0-0 draw in their opening game. Looking at the fact that the Rojiblancos have already conceded five goals, it is rather hard to imagine that the newly sorted defence can withstand the Catalan onslaught.
Because Xavi’s side have not lost any of their last 13 league games against the Nervionenses, there is almost no alternative to betting on the Blaugrana’s next away win.
