3 talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Sevilla

Barcelona got back to winning ways under Xavi’s mentorship on Saturday at Camp Nou. The game against Elche was a draining affair, but one that would give the dressing room much-needed confidence.

After conceding a late equaliser against Osasuna, Barcelona proved to the world that they too can be effective in the dying minutes of the game. Against Elche, the Catalans kept pushing for a winner immediately after their brief five-minute lapse in concentration. The reward arrived in the 85th minute when Nico scored off the bench to fetch three points.

Yet, there is no rest for the men in garnet and blue. Just over 48 hours later, Xavi’s men face a grueling challenge at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan where they take on a rampant Sevilla. Here are three talking points ahead of the mega clash.

1. Sevilla: The winning machine

Very few sides in La Liga can boast of being as dominant as Sevilla this season. Lopetegui’s side stands in the second position in La Liga with 11 wins in 17 games. The Seville-based side have only lost two games in the league this season, to Real Madrid and Granada.

In terms of recent forms, Barcelona’s opponents have won their last three games and six of the last eight. On Saturday, they also got the better of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in a 2-1 rout.

What stands out from their performances is the fact that Sevilla are well drilled in every aspect of the game. The various units function in coherence and tandem with each other to ensure the assembly of a well-oiled machine: a winning one.

Right from the tight and organized defensive structure to the fluid interplay of midfield, they consistently deliver the final product. Despite having nine more shots on goal than Sevilla, Simeone’s side were denied to chance to go ahead in the game owing to the Andulasians’ tenacity at the back.

Considering Barcelona’s rather blunt attack, it will be a challenge for them to find a way past the Sevilla back-line.

2. Is Champions League really a dream too far?

Barcelona are currently in seventh place in the table, sitting just 2 points above Valencia. However, things could change dramatically if the Catalans defeat Sevilla on Tuesday.

In the event of a win at Ramon Sachez Pizjuan, the club will move up to fourth place in the table with 30 points. Moreover, they will have a game in hand over Rayo Vallecano who are also sitting at the same tally.

However, Atletico Madrid will have played one less game than Barcelona in that case, meaning that a win for them would push Xavi’s side down to fifth.

Nevertheless, this is big news for the club. The fact that they are just one win away from being within touching distance of the top four is a factor that could motivate the players to give it all on Tuesday.

Failure to qualify for the Champions League next season would be a big blow to the club’s finances. So far it was thought that winning the Europa League would be the most practical way for the Blaugranas to qualify for the competition. Now, however, the realisation creeps in that they are not too far off from a finish in the top four.

3. A team selection that could decide the game

Xavi has some very critical evaluations to make before Barcelona face off against the second-placed team. The problems begin right from goal, where Marc-André ter Stegen is looking shakier than ever before.

The German once again spilled two goals cheaply on Saturday, leading to questions regarding his default selection. The manager could trust the young Inaki Pena or the Brazilian Neto, but that too would be risky in such a high-pressure encounter.

The forward line is another department where Xavi will have to work out the ideal formula. Ferran Jutgla grabbed his opportunity with both hands against Elche and is a candidate to start on the night. However, Luuk de Jong knows his former side well, and the experience of knowing the opposition from inside could be a deciding factor.

Nico Gonzalez once again proved his worth coming off the bench, and made a statement that his position should be on the field at all times. However, with the depth Xavi possesses in midfield, it remains to be seen how the former midfielder accommodates his resources.

Could Sergio Busquets be benched on the night as the youngsters look more ready than ever to take complete control? Only time will tell.