A re-edition of the 2015 Super Cup final between Sevilla and Barcelona will continue the seventh week of La Liga games this Saturday. The hosts, heavily hit with a number of injuries, have been struggling to show the form that made them one of the most exciting sides to watch last season, while Los Blaugranas will be trying to prove they can live without one of the best footballers in the planet.
Back in August, Sevilla managed to come back from a three-goal deficit to send the UEFA Super Cup to overtime, only to end up losing that game with a late goal by Pedro. So, Emery's side will try to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd, while they hand Los Culés their second loss this season.
Sevilla
Emery hasn't been able to give Los Andaluces the flare they enjoyed last season, which ended with them lifting the UEFA Europa League title. After watching key elements leave the club, such as Carlos Bacca, the Rojiblanco boss has struggled with a number of injuries to key players, including Ever Banega, Gael Kakuta and Nico Pareja, among others. In their previous six La Liga matches, Sevilla has conceded ten goals, scoring only five times. Any chances of success the Andalucian side has will be determined by the performances of Kevin Gameiro and Grzegorz Krychowiak, two of the most influential players in the team.
Barcelona
Last week was not good at all for Luis Enrique's side, having lost the game against Celta on September 23 and watching Lionel Messi come down with a knee injury. To make matters worse, Andrés Iniesta added his name to the nursery list during the game against Bayer Leverkusen, so Luis Enrique will need to make some adjustments if he wants his side to perform the way their fans want them to. Without two of their most relevant players, Neymar and Luis Suárez will have to step up and lead the team, even if that idea is easier said than done.
Perhaps the only good news for Barcelona came during the past few days, as goalkeeper Claudio Bravo is fully fit to take his placer as Los Culés starting shot-stopper. Bravo won the Zamora trophy last year, with the lowest amount of goals conceded during the league, and after Marc André Ter Stegen's performances, the Chilean goalie could be making his first start of the season after sitting out the first six games due to an injury.
Head to head
Although Barcelona has struggled lately when they meet against Sevilla at Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan, stats show the visitors might have a good chance of success, even with their high-profile absences.
Record Barcelona in 173 games against Sevilla: 96W - 35D - 42L #fcblive Goals: 354-222 [via @barcastat]
— barcastuff (@barcastuff) October 3, 2015
Team sheets for Sevilla vs Barcelona
Sevilla's Starting XI:Rico, Coke, Andreolli, Kolodziejczak, Tremoulinas; Krychowiak, N'Zonzi, Vitolo, Iborra, Krohn-Deli, Gameiro.
Barcelona's Starting XI: Bravo, Piqué, Rakitic, Sergio, Suárez, Neymar, Mascherano, Munir, Jordi Alba. S.Roberto, Mathieu.
Sevilla's subs: Soria, Mariano, Kolo, Cristóforo, Luismi, Reyes, Konoplyanka, Immobile, Llorente
Barcelona's subs: Ter Stegen, Douglas, Alves, Bartra, Sandro, Gumbau, Camara.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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